Cowboys Sign First-Round LB Leighton Vander Esch

May 11, 2018

The Dallas Cowboys have signed first-round LB Leighton Vander Esch to a four-year contract on Friday, according to Todd Archer.

This leaves third-round WR Michael Gallup as the only unsigned draft pick from the Cowboys 2018 class.

Rd	Pick	Player	Pos.	Status
1	19	Leighton Vander Esch	LB	Signed
2	50	Connor Williams	OL	Signed
3	81	Michael Gallup	WR
4	116	Dorance Armstrong	DE	Signed
4	137	Dalton Schultz	TE	Signed
5	171	Mike White	QB	Signed
6	193	Chris Covington	OLB	Signed
6	208	Cedrick Wilson	WR	Signed
7	236	Bo Scarbrough	RB	Signed

Vander Esch, 21, was taken with the No. 19 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft by the Cowboys. According to OverTheCap.com, he received a $11,847,784 contract that includes a $6,696,568 signing bonus.

The contract includes a fifth-year option for the Cowboys to pick up in 2021. It’s worth mentioning that the fifth-year option is only guaranteed for injury and won’t prevent the two parties from working on a long-term extension.

During his three-year college career at Boise State, Vander Esch recorded 188 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, six pass defenses, one fumble recovery, and four forced fumbles.