With the 11th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft; the Dallas Cowboys are pleased to select Shawne Merriman, a junior DE/OLB from the University of Maryland.
With the Cowboys leaning toward runnig the 3-4 next year, or atleast a mix of 3-4 and 4-3, the despratly need personal that can rush the passer. Shawne fills this role in either scheme. In the 4-3, he will play DE; and in the 3-4 he will play OLB.
Merriman is a physical freak at 6-4, 245 pounds with a 41 inch vertical. Shawne is an exceptional pass rusher, able to beat most OT with just his athleticism; and after some coaching on technique should be a force off the edge. An added bonus is that Merriman has experience dropping into coverage; saomething the Cowboys will ask him to do as a rookie.
The orgainization thought about taking one of the CB, but with the recent rule changes; the value of taking a CB in early had fallen.
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