Why did Dallas draft Leighton Vander Esch?

erod · Dec 9, 2019

rocyaice said:
Cowboys seem to be pretty on it when it comes to this stuff. People said Ronald Leary and Ajayi wouldn’t last long......

But Leary was an undrafted free agent, and Ajayi was taken in the 5th round.

kwcool619 · Dec 9, 2019

erod said:
Leighton Vander Esch has spinal stenosis. Had it his whole life.

That's the same condition that ended Michael Irvin's career. And he wasn't a head-butting middle linebacker.

This condition was why many NFL teams took Vander Esch off their board before the 2018 draft. He was deemed too risky to take early in the draft.

Apparently dating back to high school and college, he's had continuous issues with neck injuries just like he's going through now. I wonder if his poor play is partly because he's mentally trying to protect his neck at all times.

Why would you draft a linebacker with a severe neck injury risk in the first round? What are we doing early in these otherwise good drafts in recent years?

We could already be looking at the end of his career sooner rather than later. He could end up in the same scrap heap as Randy Gregory, Taco Charlton, and Trysten Hill in the end.

Need a new scouting department. This current one continuously draft brittle players.

morat1959 · Dec 9, 2019

erod said:
Leighton Vander Esch has spinal stenosis. Had it his whole life.

That's the same condition that ended Michael Irvin's career. And he wasn't a head-butting middle linebacker.

This condition was why many NFL teams took Vander Esch off their board before the 2018 draft. He was deemed too risky to take early in the draft.

Apparently dating back to high school and college, he's had continuous issues with neck injuries just like he's going through now. I wonder if his poor play is partly because he's mentally trying to protect his neck at all times.

Why would you draft a linebacker with a severe neck injury risk in the first round? What are we doing early in these otherwise good drafts in recent years?

We could already be looking at the end of his career sooner rather than later. He could end up in the same scrap heap as Randy Gregory, Taco Charlton, and Trysten Hill in the end.

Do you really have to ask this question? It’s a process! Just another of the Jones boys blunders in a 24 year long list. They’re always trying to be smarter than the rest of the league. In turn, they’re the laughing stock of the league.

mattjames2010 · Dec 9, 2019

Apparently all of the evals on his neck came back good except one.

He denies ever even having a stinger in college. Personally, and this is m y xWalker conspiracy theory of the day, I think someone slipped someone some $$$ for some positive reports. I think he certainly has had neck problems for some time.

coult44 · Dec 9, 2019

texbumthelife said:
Who cares? They drafted him. He's a Cowboy now. Maybe let's root for him to remain healthy and productive as long as possible instead of rueing the day the Cowboys took him. Whether you agreed with it or not, that pick isn't remotely the reason this defense sucks.

A more appropriate question might be why did Dallas sign Monte Kiffin way past his prime, Marinelli way past his prime, Richards off being fired? Why did they play Byron Jones at safety when he was clearly a corner and sit Jourdan Lewis when he's so obviously better than Brown?

You can’t have it both ways. You can’t say who cares why question it because it is what it is, and then say BUT we should question A, B, C. Why do we have to choose what we can question. I too wonder why we drafted a guy with a neck/back history, at the same time as having all the questions you have. I don’t discount either one of your concerns. The bottom line is the few people making ALL these decisions are wrong 90% of the time.

Tabascocat · Dec 9, 2019

David Wright for the Mets had spinal stenosis and he had a really good career. Yes, football is more physical but it is not career ending at this point.

texbumthelife · Dec 9, 2019

coult44 said:
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t say who cares why question it because it is what it is, and then say BUT we should question A, B, C. Why do we have to choose what we can question. I too wonder why we drafted a guy with a neck/back history, at the same time as having all the questions you have. I don’t discount either one of your concerns. The bottom line is the few people making ALL these decisions are wrong 90% of the time.

You're right, that was poorly phrased. There just seems to be a ton of kicking people while they're down around here and I'm not a fan of that.

I also think it makes more sense to question the things I am, when we've already seen the results. Vander Esch is in his second year. Dude could go on to play 15 years at a high level. Questioning a kid in his second season is weird to me. Kuechky has injury issues, would you second guess that pick?

Kiffin was trash in Dallas. Marinelli hasn't been any better. Richards more of the same. That's the difference in questioning to me. Those are known quantities. Known FAILURES.

glimmerman · Dec 9, 2019

erod said:
It's not the end all for receivers or corners, but it's not good for running backs or linebackers for sure.

Especially when he's had this injury several times now.

Let him he’s and see if it continues. He played well last year and not terrible this year. With the way our LBs played last year and having Lee in there this year I expected better. Not sure if our D-Line isn’t keeping them clean or what.

ultron · Dec 9, 2019

No one was complaining last year when this dude was one of the best Linebackers in football.

The Cowboys do their due diligence and consult with doctors and specialist when they draft players - so it's not like they're just sitting there eating popcorn and picking random players.

DoctorChicken · Dec 9, 2019

Wow, the daily overly dramatic erod thread.

Pessimist_cowboy · Dec 9, 2019

I’m just concerned that the Cowboys haven’t been clear on this whole situation. What is it? I am concerned because he looks out of sorts almost all season like 1-2 steps behind. The cowboys said he had Vertigo? Then the next week he hurts his neck. Then comes back and plays 1 game and is out ever since. Is it a pinched nerve or what?

Floatyworm · Dec 9, 2019

Fan over reaction...plus team being overly cautious...I think they are saving him for Philadelphia...and why not. People have known for a month now...that game is for the division.

bodi · Dec 9, 2019

i always wanted the colts LB Darius Leonard any way

tomsanders921 · Dec 9, 2019

erod said:
Leighton Vander Esch has spinal stenosis. Had it his whole life.

That's the same condition that ended Michael Irvin's career. And he wasn't a head-butting middle linebacker.

This condition was why many NFL teams took Vander Esch off their board before the 2018 draft. He was deemed too risky to take early in the draft.

Apparently dating back to high school and college, he's had continuous issues with neck injuries just like he's going through now. I wonder if his poor play is partly because he's mentally trying to protect his neck at all times.

Why would you draft a linebacker with a severe neck injury risk in the first round? What are we doing early in these otherwise good drafts in recent years?

We could already be looking at the end of his career sooner rather than later. He could end up in the same scrap heap as Randy Gregory, Taco Charlton, and Trysten Hill in the end.

We like injury prone linebackers or linebackers with a pre-existing injury or condition.

Jerry Gamble's too much. He sees the talent level and what could be. Instead of gambling with picks we should be selecting solid football players who are dependable.

Nexx · Dec 9, 2019

Bullflop · Dec 9, 2019

It's crazy how Jerry always liked to "gamble" on players with red flags, hoping they'd get over their woes. Jeez, how's that working out? :banghead:

dallas72 · Dec 9, 2019

Future said:
The only way to get more out of Jaylon is to have him blitz, almost exclusively.

He can't do anything else.

Jaylon could be a top 3 MLB if he improved his block shedding ..he has great instincts just cant shed blockers

Future · Dec 9, 2019

dallas72 said:
Jaylon could be a top 3 MLB if he improved his block shedding ..he has great instincts just cant shed blockers

His instincts are by far the worst part of his game.

bodi · Dec 9, 2019

Future said:
His instincts are by far the worst part of his game.

lol

ChuckA1 · Dec 9, 2019

ghosttown cowboy said:
Why did we draft Taco Charlton, Greg Ellis over Randy Moss, Julius Jones over Stephen Jackson, two number 1's for Joey Galloway...The check writer wants to be Jimmy at evaluating talent and he just isn't...

These were all absolutely terrible moves, but equally bad are not drafting a huge 1T and strong safety who can cover after getting gashed up the middle so often! These decisions make absolutely no sense after the Colts and Rams games last year!

Why did Dallas draft Leighton Vander Esch?

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