2019 Pro Bowl snubs: The top 4 underrated but deserving players left out

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 13: Defensive back Desmond King #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after the Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 29-28 to win the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 14: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys targeted Vander Esch prior to the start of the 2018 NFL Draft, and their gut feeling turned out to be the right one.

Vander Esch has put together one of the best rookie seasons from a linebacker we’ve seen in recent years, not only racking up stats but elevating the Cowboys’ defense to a potential division champion level.

He’s got 117 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions. Those numbers may not jump off the page as Defensive MVP worthy, but the impact Vander Esch has had in games and the percentage of those tackles that are truly difference-making plays is astounding.

This is one of the best young stars defensively in the game today, and he deserved to be recognized for the work he did in 2018.

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