OLB · Dallas Cowboys
Leighton Vander Esch
Age 30 · 193 cm (6'4") · 116 kg · Born Feb 8, 1996 · Boise State
NFL career
2018
debut year
2023
last season
6
seasons
#55
jersey
College: Boise State
2018 NFL Draft
Rd 1
round
#19
overall pick
DAL
drafted by
Career stats
Regular-season totals from 2018 to 2023 · 70 games.
Defense
271solo tackles
3.5sacks
3INTs
0def TDs
Stats by season
6 regular-season campaigns tracked.
Defense
| Year | Team | G | Tackles | Sacks | Int | Def TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dallas Cowboys | 16 | 97 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | Dallas Cowboys | 9 | 41 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | Dallas Cowboys | 10 | 29 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Dallas Cowboys | 17 | 43 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | Dallas Cowboys | 13 | 47 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Dallas Cowboys | 5 | 14 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Games during career · Dallas Cowboys
Most recent results for the franchise while Leighton Vander Esch was on the roster (1999+ play-by-play coverage).
L
W
W
L
L
W
W
W
32–48 vs Packers
2023-19 · Jan 14, 2024 · PLAYOFF
W
38–10 @ Commanders
2023-18 · Jan 7, 2024 · REGULAR
W
20–19 vs Lions
2023-17 · Dec 30, 2023 · REGULAR
L
20–22 @ Dolphins
2023-16 · Dec 24, 2023 · REGULAR
L
10–31 @ Bills
2023-15 · Dec 17, 2023 · REGULAR
W
33–13 vs Eagles
2023-14 · Dec 10, 2023 · REGULAR
W
41–35 vs Seahawks
2023-13 · Nov 30, 2023 · REGULAR
W
45–10 vs Commanders
2023-12 · Nov 23, 2023 · REGULAR
Career badges
Retired
First-round pick
External profiles
Boise State alumni in the NFL
Other NFL players who attended Boise State.
Ahmed Hassanein
DE · 2025 · Lions
Ashton Jeanty
RB · 2025 · Raiders
George Holani
RB · 2024 · Seahawks
JL Skinner
SAF · 2023 · Broncos
John Ojukwu
OT · 2023 · Eagles
Scott Matlock
DT · 2023 · Chargers
Khalil Shakir
WR · 2022 · Bills
Avery Williams
RB · 2021 · Jets
John Bates
TE · 2021 · Commanders
Curtis Weaver
DE · 2020 · Browns
2018 NFL Draft · Round 1 class
Other players selected in the same round.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#7
#8
#9
#11
Baker Mayfield
QB · CLE
#2
Saquon Barkley
RB · NYG
#3
Sam Darnold
QB · NYJ
#4
Denzel Ward
CB · CLE
#5
Bradley Chubb
OLB · DEN
#6
Quenton Nelson
G · IND
#7
Josh Allen
C · BUF
#7
Josh Allen
QB · BUF
#8
Roquan Smith
ILB · CHI
#9
Mike McGlinchey
OT · SFO
#10
Josh Rosen
QB · ARI
#11
Minkah Fitzpatrick
FS · MIA
OLB peers of the era
Other OLBs who debuted within five seasons of Leighton Vander Esch.
Bradley Chubb
Debut 2018 · #9 · Bills
Jerome Baker
Debut 2018 · Browns
Kyzir White
Debut 2018 · 49ers
Leon Jacobs
Debut 2018 · #48 · Jaguars
Matthew Adams
Debut 2018 · #49 · Giants
Ola Adeniyi
Debut 2018 · #92 · Titans
Shaquem Griffin
Debut 2018 · #49 · Dolphins
Shaquille Leonard
Debut 2018 · #53 · Eagles