2018 NFL Redraft: Lamar Jackson saves the Cleveland Browns
By Samuel Teets
19. Dallas Cowboys: Vita Vea, DT (Leighton Vander Esch, LB)
The Cowboys hit a home run when they selected Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch with the 19th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Dallas landed a top-ten player with a mid-first-round selection. However, Vander Esch went 11 picks ago in the redraft. Now, the Cowboys must find another future superstar.
Dallas could’ve gone in a lot of directions here. Jason Witten retired following the 2017 season, which meant that the Cowboys needed a tight end for 2018. Witten later unretired, but Dallas couldn’t have known that would happen.
The team also desperately needed wide receiver help, considering Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams were the best pass-catchers on the roster. Dallas did eventually trade for Amari Cooper during the season and drafted Michael Gallup in the third round. Instead, I have the Cowboys making a controversial selection by forgoing offensive studs in favor of a defensive anchor.
Vea originally went 12th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he falls a few spots in the redraft. The 2017 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year got off to a slow start as a rookie because of injuries, but he became one of the league’s best interior linemen last year.
In an article published in May, Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey detailed Vea’s gradual rise to stardom.
"Nose tackles are large enough and strong enough to control double teams, but it takes a rare type of athlete to still have the sort of quickness and explosiveness needed to provide high-level value as a pass rusher. To say Vita Vea is that kind of athlete is an understatement."
Vea started turning heads last season. He even made ESPN Staff Writer Bill Barnwell’s 2019 All-Underrated Team. The Washington product combined with Ndamukong Suh to generate the top run defense in the NFL, allowing a measly 73.8 rushing yards per game. Second place allowed 86.9. Tampa Bay’s defense even stifled Christian McCaffrey, holding the All-Pro to 68 rushing yards in their two meetings. McCaffrey averaged roughly 1.8 yards per carry in those games.
In Dallas, Vea could eat up offensive linemen and draw attention away from Demarcus Lawrence. He’d be the best interior presence for Dallas since Jay Ratliff.