Assassin said:

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I still cant get over Saints giving up and extra 1 for Davenport

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I know...look at what they gave up for 14 vs what Buffalo gave up for 16.

Maybe it's Sutton

Vander Esch....Bobby Carpenter 2.0?

Damnit....Vander Esch

So would have gone Landry...

BearForce said:

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Vander Esch....Bobby Carpenter 2.0?

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Jeez...tell me no. This dude was a one hit wonder wasn't he?

Did McClay make that pick or Jerry?

Franko said:

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Vander Esch. Big kid 6'4, 255. Loooong arms at 34.

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Is he oft injured?

So glad we took a defensive player. He seems psyched to be here.

He seems to love being a Cowboy...I do love that!!!

Martavious Bryant to the Raiders for a 3rd....I would have done that.

129 tackles and 3 INTs this past year. Thats a lot of taclkes

Assassin said:

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129 tackles and 3 INTs this past year. Thats a lot of taclkes

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Agree...still hate leaving a big time pass rusher on the board.

Think about all the guards that are falling to the 2nd round.

CBS Sports give Cowboys an immediate "A"

Grade: A
Pete Prisco: This is a steal. He will be a big-time star (or "Star") in their defense.

Scouting report

Chris Trapasso: Oversized off-ball linebacker with immense athletic gifts. Straight-line speed is outstanding, and he's relatively smooth when changing directions. Lacking the refinement to defeat blocks to make plays on the football near the line. If kept clean, he can be a dynamic linebacker at the next level.

We'll probably take a really tall TE from San Diego St that can't catch.

BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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129 tackles and 3 INTs this past year. Thats a lot of taclkes

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Agree...still hate leaving a big time pass rusher on the board.

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I would have gone all out trying to trade back to 23 with the Pats. I think LVE would be there. I think

Not thrilled, but not pissed. Linebacker is a huge need. But I would have moved up to get James.

Gust Avrakotos said:

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Think about all the guards that are falling to the 2nd round.

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Agree which is why I knew we wouldn't go there...Billy Price is my target in round 2.


And just as I say that Ragnow from Arky just went off the board.

BearForce said:

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Martavious Bryant to the Raiders for a 3rd....I would have done that.

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Not sure that any other team than the Raiders wants the alledged headaches Bryant brings

Franko said:

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Not thrilled, but not pissed. Linebacker is a huge need. But I would have moved up to get James.

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I can't see giving up a 3rd when we need that pick.

I am not at all mad about the LVE pick. Massive upside.

Cowboys selected Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Receiver might be the Cowboys' biggest need following the release of Dez Bryant, but linebacker was a major area of concern as well. Vander Esch (6'4/256) earned 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors as a redshirt junior, tallying 10 career tackles for loss, four sacks, and three forced fumbles. PFF College credited him with 2017's most run stops (57) and highest run-stop percentage (15.9%) among draft-eligible linebackers. Vander Esch drew comparisons to LaVar Arrington and Brian Urlacher before the draft, posting the highest SPARQ score (96th-percentile) in this year's off-ball linebacker class. Supremely athletic with long arms (33 ") that help in coverage, Vander Esch is built to play on all three downs. As long as his health cooperates -- he was reportedly flagged for a neck issue by some teams -- Vander Esch should be a quality addition.

Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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Martavious Bryant to the Raiders for a 3rd....I would have done that.

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Not sure that any other team than the Raiders wants the alledged headaches Bryant brings

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The talent is worth a 3rd but yeah the drama though he likely would have been our #1 so that might have made it ok.

BearForce said:

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Franko said:

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Not thrilled, but not pissed. Linebacker is a huge need. But I would have moved up to get James.

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I can't see giving up a 3rd when we need that pick.

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I think a 4th gets you 2 spots past mid round.

Am I the only one that hates the three day draft format?

Here we go, Ragnow and now Price....OG run is brewing.

BearForce said:

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Am I the only one that hates the three day draft format?

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no, you are not

So LVE will take over Mike, Jaylon moves to SAM and Sean stays at Will?

Thats a fast bunch of backers

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Round 1
NFL Comparison
Karlos Dansby (early version)

Overview
Vander Esch is a loose-hipped, instinctive linebacker who played in 2017 like he had a GPS tracker on the football. His production totals against both the run and pass are rare for being a first-year starter and with a frame that is primed for more muscle, his NFL ceiling is high. Vander Esch might benefit from a reduced role his rookie season while he improves his play strength and becomes more skilled at taking on blocks. He's an every-down linebacker with very good starting potential and the talent to fill up a stat sheet.
Strengths

• Big, long and athletic
• Has history of achievement with dominant performances and state titles in two sports in high school
• Former basketball standout with fluid hips and smooth movement around the field
• Almost no delay in his change of direction
• Has agility and quick-twitch for sudden lateral bursts in his slides to close out slashers
• Triggers with compact burst to the ball
• Works under climbing blockers to stay clean
• Easy sideline-to-sideline range as tackler
• Has athletic ability to recover and tackle despite over pursuit
• Widens frame and opens arms to welcome his prey as a tackler
• Generally wraps up
• Very talented in coverage
• Quick but smooth in his drops
• Mirrors quarterback's eyes with ability to redirect from side to side as he follows
• Uses active, catch-ready hands to breakup the pass or take it away
• Shows real rush talent and instincts as a blitzer
• May have enough ability to beat a tackle as edge rusher from time to time

Weaknesses

• Has just one year of starting experience
• Still filling out his frame
• Play strength has room for improvement
• Has some struggles in taking on blocks and will get washed away by down blocks
• Hasn't learned to use hands effectively to punch and separate
• Takes himself out of tackle opportunities by attacking iso-blocks and lead blocks with a shoulder
• At times, will over pursue or run himself out of position in attempt to play fast and avoid having to deal with blockers

Assassin said:

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So LVE will take over Mike, Jaylon moves to SAM and Sean stays at Will?

Thats a fast bunch of backers

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I'm not upset by that group. It's an upgrade. But I really wanted James. Think Jalen Ramsey without the dumbass factor.

Assassin said:

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Esch is a natural goober, so, naturally, I am going to like him.

Franko said:

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I'm not upset by that group. It's an upgrade. But I really wanted James. Think Jalen Ramsey without the dumbass factor.

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ha!!

Yogi said:

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Esch is a natural goober, so, naturally, I am going to like him.

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.Vander Esch is a native of 420-person Riggins, Idaho, a town where he grew up playing eight-man football before earning a preferred walk-on spot at Boise