An enduring member of the Dallas Cowboys might be nearing the end of his contract.
Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is one of the Cowboys’ veterans that should be viewed as being on the “roster bubble” for the 2024 offseason, according to Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac. After suffering a severe neck injury for the fourth time this season, Vander Esch is recovering from another one.
Ginnitti points out that by letting go of the frequently injured starter, the Cowboys may clear $2.5 million in cap space.
According to Ginnitti, “Dallas brought LVE back on a $5M guarantee, including $1M of his 2024 salary.” “That most likely won’t stop them from leaving in March, freeing up $2.5 million in cap space.”
For the 2024 season, Vander Esch is expected to get a basic salary of $3 million and a cap hit of $4.75 million. The Cowboys would be smacked with a $2.25 million dead cap penalty if they decide to let go of the 27-year-old linebacker this offseason.
It’s not so much Vander Esch’s performance on the pitch as it is his availability. After his rookie season ended in 2018, the former Pro Bowler was selected. He recovered well in 2022, recording 90 tackles in just 14 games, good for second place on the club in tackle totals.
Vander Esch recorded his best defensive grade in a single season since his debut year, when he recorded an 84.4 defensive grade, in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus, with a defensive grade of 70.8./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72908450/1814329665.0.jpg)
After such a successful season, Vander Esch was re-signed by the Cowboys to a longer and larger contract this time around, a two-year agreement for $8 million. The Cowboys had previously signed him to a one-year deal during the 2022 offseason.
But Vander Esch’s career is in jeopardy due to his most recent neck injury, which happened just five games into the 2023 campaign. Owner of the team Jerry Jones voiced concerns about Vander Esch’s future career shortly after the injury.
