Leighton Vander Esch 2018 Film Breakdown || #TTG4RealFilmRoom

The Dallas Cowboys selected Vander Esch in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he was the third linebacker selected.[18] External video Cowboys draft Vander Esch 19th overall Vander Esch celebrates NFL draft with family On May 11, the Cowboys signed Vander Esch to a fully guaranteed four-year $11.84 million that includes a signing bonus of $6.69 million.[19] Throughout training camp, Vander Esch competed to be the starting middle linebacker against Jaylon Smith.[20] Head coach Jason Garrett named Vander Esch the backup middle linebacker, behind Jaylon Smith, to start the regular season.[21] He made his professional regular season debut in the Cowboys' season-opener at the Carolina Panthers and recorded three combined tackles in their 16–8 loss. On September 30, Vander Esch earned his first career start after Sean Lee sustained a hamstring injury and was inactive for three games (Weeks 4–6).[22] He made six combined tackles as the Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions 26–24. The following week, he collected 14 combined tackles (11 solo) during their 19–16 loss at the Houston Texans in Week 5.[23] On November 11, Vander Esch recorded a season-high 13 solo tackles and made his first career interception during a 27–20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He intercepted a pass by Eagles' quarterback Carson Wentz, that was intended for tight end Zach Ertz, during the first quarter.[24] The following week, Vander Esch recorded eight combined tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan during a 22–19 win at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11. In Week 16, he collected a season-high 15 combined tackles (11 solo) as the Cowboys defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27–20.[25] He finished his first season in 2018 with a franchise rookie-record 140 combined tackles (102 solo), seven deflections, and two interceptions in 16 games and 11 starts.[26] Vander Esch finished with the third most tackles among all players in 2018, behind Indianapolis Colts' linebacker Darius Leonard (163 tackles) and Green Bay Packers' linebacker Blake Martinez (144 tackles). He received an overall grade of 87.5 from Pro Football Focus in 2018, which ranked fourth among all qualifying linebackers.[27] The Dallas Cowboys finished first in the NFC East with a 10–6 record and earned a playoff berth. On January 5, 2019, Vander Esch started in his first career playoff game and recorded ten combined tackles (six solo) as the Cowboys defeated the Seattle Seahawks 24–22 in the NFC Wildcard Game.[25]