Stephen Jones addresses upcoming free agency for Donovan Wilson, Leighton Vander Esch
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones discussed several of the team’s pending free agents at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday. Among the many, the Cowboys are considering for new contracts is safety Donovan Wilson.
Wilson, along with Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker, has stabilized the position over the past year. Jones would like to see the group stick together.
“It’s great to have all three of them,” Jones said. “Obviously, a priority to keep them together. It will be one of our priorities.”
Wilson, drafted in the sixth round in 2019 out of Texas A&M, was playing on a four-year, $2.65 million rookie deal. The 27-year-old former Aggie posted a career-high 101 tackles this season for Dallas. He also had five sacks, two forced fumbles, a recovery and one interception.
During Dallas’s postseason run, Wilson had an additional 20 tackles, including a tackle for loss.
After finishing third on the defense in tackles in 2020, Wilson had shoulder and groin injuries that made him miss eight games in 2021.
Kearse recently boasted about the trio’s success in 2022, saying it’s “only getting better,” in a post on Twitter.
Leighton Vander Esch deal boils down to ‘economics’
Another big Dallas name up for a new deal is linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Jones believes the former Boise State star did enough to deserve a big contract, however, it will come down to cap space.
“I thought Leighton had a great year,” Jones said. “It’ll all just boil down to the economics in terms of where he ends up. He had a hell of a year.”
Vander Esch played the 2022 season on a one-year deal with Dallas worth $2 million. After playing in 65% of the defensive snaps this season and helping the Cowboys make the playoffs, he earned a $300,000 bonus incentive.
This season, Vander Esch led the defense in tackles until he suffered a neck injury that kept him out for multiple weeks. He returned to the field in time for playoffs, however.
Vander Esch finished the year with 90 tackles in the regular season, which was the most he’s recorded since his rookie year in 2018. He also had a sack and six tackles for loss, as well as 20 postseason tackles.