According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, veteran linebacker Leighton Vander Esch has re-signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year contract.
Vander Esch’s contract is reportedly worth up to $3 million, as reported by ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Vander Esch had just finished a deal with the Cowboys that paid him $11.8 million over four years. Since being drafted by Dallas with the nineteenth overall choice in the 2018 NFL draft out of Boise State, the 26-year-old has become an integral part of the team’s defensive unit.
The Cowboys declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Vander Esch’s contract in May 2021. His agent, Ron Slavin, previously stated that Dallas was eager to extend his rookie contract.
Over the course of his four years in the league, Vander Esch has been remarkably reliable. However, his greatest season was in 2018, when he made 140 tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one quarterback hit on his way to a Pro Bowl nod.
The decision to re-sign Vander Esch by Dallas is not unexpected. When the 2021 season was over, he had recorded one interception, two pass defenses, one sack, 77 tackles, four tackles for a loss, and one quarterback hit.
The signing of Vander Esch ensures that the Cowboys will have a top-tier defense in 2022. Several players, including Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, and DeMarcus Lawrence, are looking forward to improving on their 2021 performances in the year to come.
How Much Does Leighton Vander Esch Make?
The average salary for Leighton Vander Esch is $2,000,000 per year. Vander Esch will get a base salary of $1,250,000, a signing bonus of $500,000, and a roster bonus of $250,000. He will also have a cap hit of $2,000,000 and a dead cap value of $1,750,000.