5 Leighton Vander Esch Replacements the Cowboys Must Target

On Sunday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys suffered their worst loss under Mike McCarthy with the San Francisco 49ers running them out of the stadium 42-10.

As if that wasn't enough, they also lost a couple of key players in the game. Receiver/return man KaVontae Turpin injured his ankle hauling in his first receiving touchdown of his career and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch went down with a neck injury.

Turpin will most likely return this season but Vander Esch appears headed to the IR. It's wise to be cautious given his history of neck injuries but that leaves Dallas really thin at the position. That's why it would make sense to bring in one of these five players to help the defense stay afloat.

5. Rashaan Evans

A former first-round pick in 2018, Rashaan Evans spent four seasons with the Tennessee Titans and was a starter for the majority of that time. He recorded 317 tackles with 15 going for a loss and added two interceptions during that time.

He then signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 and had his best statistical season as a pro. Evans started all 17 games and had 159 tackles, two sacks, and four pass defenses. Despite his performance, the Falcons didn't retain him and Evans signed with the Eagles practice squad.

Philly wound up releasing him just a few days later and he has yet to land anywhere.

Adding Evans would give Dallas a sure tackler with 76 games of experience under his belt. He's also the only free agent on this list, so it wouldn't cost them any draft capital to add via trade.

4. Deion Jones

Early in his career, Deion Jones was one of the hottest names in the NFL. He began his career under Dan Quinn, who was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for the first four-plus seasons of his career. Jones came into the NFL with a bang, recording 108 tackles with three interceptions — two of which were pick-sixes.

He continued to thrive under Quinn, even signing a four-year, $57 million contract extension with $34 million guaranteed ahead of the 2019 campaign. He played two more seasons with the Falcons and while his numbers were still off the charts, his efficiency had declined.

This led to Jones being dealt to the Cleveland Browns, who had lost their starting middle linebacker Anthony Walker. Jones had 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a pick for the Browns but was not retained. Still, he showed he can come in and adapt in a hurry — and had a few impressive plays for Cleveland during his 11-game stint.

Now, Jones finds himself buried on the Carolina Panthers depth chart behind Frankie Luvu and Kamu Grugier-Hill. He's made just one appearance this year and had four tackles and a pick.

At 0-5, the Panthers are the final team in the NFL without a win and they could be eager to make a move — especially for a player who they have only used once. It wouldn't take more than a late-round pick to add Jones and his familiarity with Quinn would only help ease the transition.

3. Mack Wilson Sr.

In 2019, Cleveland general manager John Dorsey believed he found a steal in the fifth round in Mack Wilson, Sr. The Alabama product didn't have the best performance at the NFL Scouting Combine but he was able to produce at a high level for the Crimson Tide.

As a rookie, he was pressed into action in a hurry and didn't disappoint. Wilson played in 16 games and made 14 starts. He finished with 82 tackles, seven pass defenses, and a pick. The expectations were high from that point but he never was able to keep a starting job for the Browns.

Ahead of the 2022 campaign, he was sent to the New England Patriots in exchange for Chase Winovich. That wound up being a win for the Pats with Winovich hardly making an impact for Cleveland while Wilson proved to be a solid depth piece for Bill Belichick.

Wilson has played in 22 games for New England and has 43 tackles and 1.5 sacks. It might not sound like much but he's done whatever has been asked of him, including playing special teams.

The one question would be if he can play in the middle. He did during his time at Alabama and had a few snaps there for Cleveland. If Dallas believes he could do it, then he might be someone to target, especially with New England looking like a team that needs to start tanking.

2. Jordan Hicks

A player the Cowboys know well could also be on the trade block, Jordan Hicks. A standout at Texas, Hicks began his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles and played for them for four years. He was a regular starter and ruined more than one game for Dallas when they went against him.

The one issue Hicks had with the Eagles was staying healthy. He missed 21 games during his tenure but has been healthy since leaving. He started every game possible for the Arizona Cardinals for three years and had 384 tackles with 5.5 sacks.

From there, he joined the Minnesota Vikings and had 129 tackles with three sacks and a pick in his first season with them. This year, he's continued to play at a high level with 43 tackles and a forced fumble in five starts.

However, the Vikings as a whole have been a mess. They've struggled mightily and now enter Week 6 with a record of 1-4. That means they could be looking to add any future assets possible and with Hicks set to hit free agency in 2024, they might be willing to take a later pick in order to get something now.

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: