text: Dallas Cowboys: National draft grades: After picking Leighton Vander Esch, 'maybe now the Cowboys defense won't implode' | SportsDay
  National draft grades: After picking Leighton Vander Esch, 'maybe now the Cowboys defense won't implode'
  Dallas Cowboys pick Leighton Vander Esch during the first round of the NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, April 26, 2018. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)
  With the first round of the NFL draft over and done with, only one things left to do:
  Make the next six rounds of picks? Nah. It's time to grade the first-round picks.
  Let's take a look at how different writers around the nation graded the Cowboys' first-round pick of Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.
  Want a peek at some grades from folks who cover the Cowboys for a living? Here's how our crew evaluated the pick.
  Bleacher Report's Richard Janvrin: Leighton Vander Esch to the Dallas Cowboys was the expected pick all along. The Cowboys did have a need at receiver, but they recognized they can wait. Vander Esch may have some play strength issues, but they will work themselves out in time. He may only have one year of starting experience, but Vander Esch can play all over the field and changes direction on a dime. He joins Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee in the Cowboys front seven. This pick felt etched in stone weeks ago.
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  CBS' Pete Prisco: This is a steal. He will be a big-time star in their defense.
  NFL.com's Chad Reuter: Vander Esch is a talented off-the-ball linebacker who can move on the outside and slip tackles inside to find the ball. Dallas needed to bolster the position, but should they have found a pass catcher here instead of a LB, given their dire need at WR? Vander Esch is a good pick, especially if his neck truly is not a problem. This draft will look even better if they secure a receiver on Friday night.
  USA Today's Steven Ruiz: Jerry Jones resisted the urge to take a receiver and landed the most complete linebacker in the class. Maybe now the Cowboys defense won't implode when Sean Lee inevitably gets injured.
  SB Nation's Dan Kadar: A lot of people expected all along that if Vander Esch was available at No. 19 that he would be the pick for the Cowboys. Vander Esch is a great athlete who can patrol the middle of Dallas' defense. He's an asset in coverage with his ability to read the quarterback and make a break on the ball. A trio of Vander Esch, Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith is an imposing and athletic trio for the Cowboys. But does he make a bigger impact than a wide receiver like Calvin Ridley or D.J. Moore would?
  How do you grade the Cowboys' 19th overall pick, Leighton Vander Esch?
  Walterfootball: One NFC team medically flunked Leighton Vander Esch, but as Charlie and I explained on the podcast, this didn't mean that he wasn't going to fall out of the first round. Teams have different medical opinions of players, and Dallas obviously has no issues with Vander Esch's neck. If Vander Esch remains healthy, he'll be a terrific player in a Dallas defense that has historically struggled mightily whenever Sean Lee has been injured. Lee being hurt now won't be as problematic moving forward, which is a good thing.
  I'm giving this a "B" grade. I'd like the pick a lot more if there weren't medical concerns about Vander Esch, but there's a good chance his neck won't be a problem, so I think this is a somewhat solid, albeit risky choice.
  Yahoo Sports staff: Vander Esch is a plug-and-play linebacker who can succeed Sean Lee as Dallas' do-it-all guy. It was odd seeing Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson take the stage in dramatic fashion only to see the Cowboys pass on Dez Bryant's replacement. Oh well, the Cowboys got a solid rookie.
  MMQB's Andy Benoit: Dallas's biggest need is wide receiver, and every one of them was still on the board when they picked at No. 19. And yet, the team went with linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, which suggests it believes that Sean Lee--injury prone, 32 years old in July and a contract expiring in 2019--is nearing his end. If they don't believe that Lee is almost done, this pick makes no sense with Jaylon Smith on the roster. In today's NFL, where nickel defense is on the field around 60% of the time, you only need two high-quality linebackers. Vander Esch is a classic three-down 'backer who started only one year in college. Most likely he'll learn from Lee and then replace him. Good player, but the glaring need at wideout going unaddressed can't be forgotten.
  People too extra to just rate things with a grade like everyone else
  Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer listed the Cowboys as one of his "winners" in Round 1, saying: "The Cowboys love high-effort linebackers, and Vander Esch falls in line with Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee. Vander Esch also finishes as furiously as he pursues; he is built to cover a ton of ground, likely on the strong side. He was worth all the cheers for the home team of the draft."
  ESPN's Mel Kiper listed the Cowboys under a question-mark rating, pointing out: "The Cowboys reached at No. 19. They could have had Calvin Ridley, the top wide receiver in this draft. They could have had Alabama inside linebacker Rashaan Evans, the No. 23 player on my Big Board. Instead, they went with Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who had one great season and a great combine. Is he a one-year wonder? I ranked him No. 37 overall in this class. Sure, linebacker was one of the Cowboys' top needs, but this is a reach."
  The New York Times' Benjamin Hoffman on Vander Esch's fit with the Cowboys: "The Cowboys needed more defense and they are hoping Vander Esch can be a diamond in the rough. It must have killed Jerry Jones to not take a player more worthy of headlines (like Alabama's Calvin Ridley) but Vander Esch might be the smarter pick. There is some bust potential, however, if he plateaus in development."
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