Vander Esch’s fifth-year option declined
Cowboys linebacker has had injury issues
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys declined the fifth-year option on linebacker Leighton Vander Esch’s rookie contract Monday, setting up an interesting season at the position after the club used this year’s first-round pick on a potential replacement.
NFL teams had until Monday to decide whether to exercise fifthyear options on 2018 first-round picks.
Vander Esch had a strong rookie season after the Cowboys drafted him 19th overall in 2018. But injuries limited him to 19 games the past two years, most notably the revelation that the former Boise State player has always had spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column that makes neck injuries more risky.
The 25-year-old was due to make $9.1 million in 2022. Vander Esch has a $2.1 million base salary in the fourth year of his $11.8 million rookie contract.
Declining the option doesn’t mean Vander Esch won’t return to the Cowboys. Cornerback Morris Claiborne re-signed for less money in 2016 after Dallas declined his fifth-year option.
BRONCOS: Denver released quarterback Jeff Driskel on Monday when they signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert.
Driskel began last season as Drew Lock’s backup and played well in relief during a Week 2 loss at Pittsburgh.
He lost his one start the following week, 28-10 to Tampa Bay, and was leapfrogged by Brett Rypien for the No. 2 job the rest of the season.
Driskel was at the center of a quarterback quagmire last November when he tested positive for the coronavirus after the team’s four quarterbacks had spent a day off together maskless.
Lock, Rypien and Blake Bortles were disqualified that weekend and the Broncos had to start a rookie practice squad receiver, Kendall Hinton, in a game against New Orleans with zero practice squad reps.
BILLS: Buffalo QB Josh
Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are staying around for at least two more seasons.
The Bills on Monday exercised the fifth-year options of both players’ contracts and retained the 2018 first-round draft picks through the 2022 season. The move comes at a combined price of about $36 million, with Allen set to make nearly $23 million in his final year.
FALCONS: Wide receiver Calvin Ridley, the team’s top draft pick in 2018, had his fifth-year, $11.116 million option picked up Monday by Atlanta.
It was previously reported that team was set to make this move, but GM Terry Fontenot would not confirm it Wednesday during the pre-draft press conference.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville declined to pick up the fifth-year option in defensive tackle Taven Bryan’s rookie contract, meaning 2021 likely will be his final year with the Jaguars.
The 29th overall selection from Florida that year, Bryan has played in every game in three seasons. But he has just 11 tackles for loss, including 3½ sacks. He finished with a career-low 18 tackles and half a sack in 2020 while counting $2.77 million against the salary cap.
VIKINGS: Minnesota declined the fifth-year contract option for cornerback Mike Hughes, with the injury-hampered player’s future with the team in doubt.
Hughes has 13 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 24 career games. He has missed more than half of them to injuries, first tearing the ACL in his left knee as a rookie. He cracked a bone in his neck in the last regular-season game in 2019 that kept him out of the playoffs, and that trouble persisted in 2020, limiting him to four games.
BEARS: Chicago released veteran offensive left tackle Charles Leno Jr. on Monday.
Drafted by Chicago in the seventh round in 2014, Leno started every game the past five seasons and 93 in a row dating to 2015. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2018.
Leno’s release comes after the Bears traded up to draft Oklahoma State tackle Teven Jenkins in the second round Friday.