5 Leighton Vander Esch Replacements the Cowboys Must Target
• Could the Patriots be ready to deal?
• Denver is set for a fire sale and could part with a stud LB
By Randy Gurzi
1. Josey Jewell
This one would be the most beneficial to the Cowboys but it might be the toughest to pull off. Due to trades that landed them Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks this offseason (plus their decision to send a fourth to San Francisco for Trey Lance), they're short on picks but that has never stopped them from finding a way to get creative.
Perhaps they have to trade their third-rounder and somehow get something else in return but if they can find a way to land Josey Jewell, it would solve their problems in the middle of the defense.
Jewell has spent the past six years with the Denver Broncos and has twice topped 100 tackles in a season. This year, he's recorded 24 tackles and is the 12th-highest-graded linebacker according to PFF.
Denver, however, is an absolute mess. They traded for Sean Payton and so far, it's been a disaster. Payton has led them to a 1-4 start and players are concerned that a potential fire sale is on the way as they begin a rebuild.
If that is the case, Jewell is a player they could look to move. He's not only playing at a high level but he's going to be a free agent in the offseason so they likely don't have him in the long-term plans.
Again, this one might be a tough pill for Dallas to swallow due to their lack of draft picks but if they want to make a run, they need their defense to continue to bail out their offense. Adding Jewell could help them do just that.
Fortunately, whether the Cowboys make the necessary addition to replace Vander Esch or not won't impact your $200 bonus from BetMGM. All you have to do is bet $5 on the 'Boys after signing up through the exclusive Sport DFW link below and your $200 bonus is guaranteed, whether your bet wins or loses.
More Dallas Cowboys news and analysis: