Denver Broncos trade options with the Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos trade options with the Dallas Cowboys

1. Leighton Vander Esch, LB

Of all of the players on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster right now, it certainly feels like one of the most likely to be traded in the coming weeks is former first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch.

A couple of years ago, the idea that Vander Esch would be on the chopping block in the near future would have been ludicrous. Now?

Not so much.

Vander Esch played in just 10 games last season and missed seven games the year before that. The Cowboys declined his fifth-year contract option as a former first-round pick, and not only that, but they used their first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

With just over $2 million in base salary for the 2021 season, Vander Esch would be an extremely worthwhile dart throw for a team like the Denver Broncos which also has two linebackers slated for 2022 free agency.

There’s no guarantee that Dallas will trade Vander Esch, but if they can get decent value for him, why wouldn’t they? It seems, at this point, he’s unlikely to play any sort of major role in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s defense.

Time will tell, but adding an athletic freak like Vander Esch and perhaps getting a leg up toward re-signing him after the 2021 season if he shows well in whatever role he plays would be a savvy move by George Paton.