Drafted by Cowboys 1st Round Pick - MLB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise St. (19th pick)

[Miller]

I honestly wasn’t excited about anyone at 19. We semi blew a drop down in Week 17. So the pick is great! I thought the WRs were reaches..though Steve Smith thinks DJ special....but we had issues, our LBs are old or injured and we got a big athletic guy. Let’s hope he just gets better and can play

 

[Gaede]

This isn't the 1980's anymore, the "big thumper" MLBs are dinosaurs. If you can't run and cover you can't play.

Sure. That sounds great.

But if you don't like taking on blocks, you can't play either

 

[Proof]

T-craw and D-law just celebrated the LVE pick on Twitter, fyi.

Of course they did. Why wouldn’t they cheer an alum?

 

[DezNuts]

Greatful we didn't take a WR. Our team looks terrible anytime Lee is out. Hopefully this will remedy that.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Sure. That sounds great.

But if you don't like taking on blocks, you can't play either

So what you were shown wasn't taking on blocks?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

"Compares to Lee and Kuechly" my ***.

Cowboys fell in love with another athlete, an underwear Olympian, a workout warrior. They didn't solve anything.

Hate it.

What are you talking about? He was the conference player of the year, captain, and best player on a ranked team's defense. He was extremely productive last year.

This is not some small school project.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

"Compares to Lee and Kuechly" my ***.

Cowboys fell in love with another athlete, an underwear Olympian, a workout warrior. They didn't solve anything.

Hate it.

Whining, like a girl.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

SPARQ won again. But I am intrigued. His arms look like toothpicks. But I like the way he played basketball in HS. Very impressive athlete.

He put up 20 on the bench but it's obvious that as much of a physical freak he is, he is nto maxed out.

BTW he has 141 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 4 FF, 2 picks. He was his conference DPoY.

He was extremely productive.

 

[Keithfansince5]

Love the pick and feel good about our first round picks of late. Now how do they follow this up tomorrow?

 

[Redsfan_83]

Phillips reported on Twitter that LVE never had a stinger, false reports. Could be a steal if he dropped because of that fear

 

[RamziD]

Wait this dude has cervical issue and neck problems? Cmon man

You know those are the same thing, right?

 

[Aven8]

He put up 20 on the bench but it's obvious that as much of a physical freak he is, he is nto maxed out.

BTW he has 141 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 4 FF, 2 picks. He was his conference DPoY.

He was extremely productive.

My only issue is it was only one year. I'm just excited that we got a LB. our biggest need.

 

[Proof]

Whining, like a girl.

What’s your take on LVE?

 

[Teague31]

His 3 cone was faster than DJ Moore and his vertical higher than Ridley.

 

[Toomany10pins]

James was my first choice if he had fallen 2 spots, but LVE was a great pick and compares well to Lee & Kuechly. Hope he is our cornerstone MLB long term and pairs well with Jaylon to form one of the best LB corps in the NFL long-term.

Also, we now have three Boise State alumni in our front 7. Hopefully, a second elite player.

Welcome!

I think you guys made a great pick. Congrats!

 

[texbumthelife]

What are you talking about? He was the conference player of the year, captain, and best player on a ranked team's defense. He was extremely productive last year.

This is not some small school project.

Mountain West. One year.

He's got some tools, but I just don't like it. Not at #19. Then again, I didn't like much that was there for value at #19.

On another note: Where did all the people go who wanted Landry?

 

[Rogerthat12]

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Cant take on blocks. Plays way too soft.
Can drop into zones but is lost there. Watch how he lets him self get out of position of where the play finally goes.
Looks way too slow. Is not - as advertised - a sidline to sideline LB.

More of a finess player. Dont make the mistake to compare him to RoMac because of his size. He is not. If he packs on more pounds he will be even slower.

This is just wrong.

All the BSU LB did not try to stack but instead flank and playoff shoulders. He is not soft and avoid contact that is shown in spades when he plays off OL shoulders scrapes down the line and finishes. And frankly most NCAA ever coming out struggle taking on blocks. He holds better than Raquon Smith and Edmunds with worse handwork.

He is not lost in coverage. He anticipates crossing routes an route combinations buzzes them and jumps routes using rare fluidity to turn and run with receivers. His football IQ us excellent. He doesn't bite on playfakes.

And he is a 4.6 guy which is plenty fast then of course his agility and burst drills are off the charts. He can burst to the sideline easily. He gets excellent depth on his backpedal. As long as he is not manned up on WR he will be fine.

 

[Rogerthat12]

 

[jnday]

This isn't the 1980's anymore, the "big thumper" MLBs are dinosaurs. If you can't run and cover you can't play.

So being a physical , hard hitter is not in style now? If you can't hit and have some kind of physical presence, LB is not your best position. If what you say is true, teams need to just draft more DBs and play them at the LB position.