Cowboys BREAKING: Leighton Vander Esch Signs 2-Year, $11 Million with Dallas - Source

Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch signs back with Dallas, a source tells CowboysSI.com.

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are bringing back a key defensive leader who "proved it'' last year ... and gets paid accordingly now.

Some feel the leader of this Dallas defense is "Lion-backer'' Micah Parsons. DeMarcus Lawrence also carries that title, as does Jayron Kearse and others.

But there's no question the "quarterback'' of the Cowboys' smothering defense the past couple of seasons has been linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. And according to a source, Vander Esch on Tuesday afternoon re-upped in Dallas under the terms of a two-year deal we're told is worth $11 million.

Vander Esch signed a one-year, $2 million "prove it" contract last offseason, and it paid off big for Dallas (as according to CowboysSI.com exclusive reports at the time, that total was one-fourth what the Steelers almost paid him before changing plans) ... and now it can pay off big for him. The Boise State product and five-year pro entered 2023 looking for a new deal.

And he earned one.

The 2018 No. 19 overall pick was key in anchoring the Dallas defense with his lateral play. He assisted newcomers Anthony Barr and Damone Clark to acclimate quickly.

We argued that Vander Esch should've been a top priority to re-sign this offseason if the Cowboys would like to duplicate what division-rival Philadelphia did this year, winning the division and making a Super Bowl appearance. ... while acknowledging that the the $2 million APY bargain day for "LVE'' is over.

And in the end, Dallas agreed.

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