Eagles Draft Board: Looking at Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch
If Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch drops to pick 32, the Philadelphia Eagles have to take him, right?
The linebacker position has looked thin lately for the Philadelphia Eagles. Aside from their three critical guys in Nigel Bradham, Mychal Kendricks, and Jordan Hicks, the unit has looked relatively weak at times. Considering that Hicks has been unable to remain healthy throughout the entirety of his young career, his future is concerning. So might the Eagles snag a linebacker in the 2018 NFL Draft?
If the Eagles are going to consider first-round linebackers, look no further than Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch. The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year has gained a ton of buzz heading into this year’s draft. With constant visits all around the league, Vander Esch has also caught the early attention of the 2017-2018 Super Bowl Champions.
Vander Esch spent three years in the NCAA, loading up on 188 tackles, five sacks, and three interceptions. Surprisingly, this past season was the only year that he started on the Bronco’s defense. He just so happened to do well enough that he felt he didn’t need to return for his senior season. Now he’s pretty much guaranteed to become a first-round selection with only one full season under his belt.
Strengths:
- Elite run-stopper (Led all FBS inside linebackers, according to PFF)
- Solid in coverage
- Great instincts as a Blitzer
Weaknesses:
- Limited experience as a starter
- Struggles with taking on blocks at times
- Slightly undersized frame
Trying to project where a player like Vander Esch will land can be difficult. This year’s draft will be a rush for quarterback’s early on, so there is a good chance that Vander Esch falls outside of the top-ten. Expecting a player who has built up such a buzz lately to drop down to the Eagles can be difficult, but it is realistic.
NFL teams may shy away from selecting a guy like Vander Esch solely based off of his size and experience. Though he shows some potential, some teams may want to spend their first-round pick on a linebacker with the same potential, but with the more proven expertise to ensure that they can be a valuable contributor from day one.
As for the Eagles, Vander Esch would be an ideal candidate to add to their defense as a rotational piece, for now. The Eagles do not need immediate help on defense, so they could spend their first pick on a player who they would only sprinkle into the defense at times. And although Vander Esch comes into the NFL labeled as undersized, that would mean nothing to Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
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Any linebacker that is versatile in the running and passing game is ideal for Schwartz’s system. Just look at Mychal Kendricks, for example. Kendricks isn’t the biggest guy on the field, but his sideline-to-sideline speed set him up for success on the Eagles defense. Vander Esch could bring just as much to the table, but with a way higher ceiling due to his age. The Eagles would have to hope that the kid falls in order to grab him, but if he does, it would be a no-brainer selection for Howie Roseman.