6. Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys
As a rookie, Vander Esch racked up 140 tackles, including 102 solo takedowns. He finished third in total tackles and second in solo tackles, beating out current and former All-Pros like Lavonte David, Luke Kuechly, and Bobby Wagner. For his effort, Vander Esch received a Pro Bowl bid and a Second-Team All-Pro spot.
Unfortunately, the Boise State product battled injuries this past year, which heavily limited his production. A neck injury ultimately ended his season after nine games, and the Cowboys placed their prized linebacker on injured reserve (IR).
Luckily, Vander Esch is ready for the 2020 season. In an interview with Bobby Belt and Jane Slater of ‘The ‘Boys & Girl Podcast,’ the 24-year-old discussed his recovery.
I am doing wonderful. I feel as good now as I ever have, before I even got hurt. I mean I’m ready to roll. I’ve been training full-go for a couple of months now, so it’s not holding me back whatsoever.
After only 25 NFL games, it’s clear that Vander Esch is the best player on Dallas’ defense, even outpacing DeMarcus Lawrence. While Lawrence earned a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2017, the highly-paid defensive end only recorded five sacks and 16 quarterback hits this past season.
Vander Esch’s partner in crime, Jaylon Smith, is also an exciting player. Smith made the Pro Bowl this past season, recording 142 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
