With the Cowboys headed for the top of the draft board come April, we thought we'd get a jump start on introducing you to the players who could wind up being a big part of the next Cowboys team. Next up is Von Miller.
Name: Von Miller
Position: Outside Linebacker
School: Texas A&M
Why He Should Be the Pick: No matter where they have coached, members of the Ryan family have shared a deep love for front seven players who made life miserable for the quarterback. Rob Ryan has such a player on his defense already in DeMarcus Ware, but you can bet that he'd like to add more of them to the mix before the 2011 season gets underway.
That's where Miller comes into the picture. He may be the best pure pass rusher in this year's draft class and does a good job in other phases of the defensive game as well. He drew rave reviews from scouts at the Senior Bowl and stands above other linebackers when it comes to the physical traits that teams are looking for at this level. Miller's the kind of player that makes you wonder about just how good he'll wind up being, something that can be awfully appealing on draft day.
Why He Won't Be the Pick: All of that said, Miller is a more natural fit as a 4-3 outside linebacker than he is for the 3-4 system that Ryan and the Cowboys will be running next season. Assuming the team doesn't make a move involving Anthony Spencer, something that doesn't seem likely, Miller wouldn't be an every-down player in 2011. That's a tough sell for the ninth pick in the draft, especially if Rob calls his brother to ask how well making square peg Vernon Gholston fit into the round hole of the Jets defense.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
Likelihood: We're confident Ryan is creative and talented enough to find a way to make Miller or any other talented player fit in his defensive scheme. That doesn't mean Miller is going to be the right man for the team come draft day. The Cowboys need immediate help on a larger scale than it looks like Miller would offer them, so even if he's available, not a sure thing, the Cowboys should pass to fill a bigger need.
Stay on top of the latest Dallas Cowboys news with NBCDFW.com. Foll ow NBC DFW Sports on Facebook or have breaking Cowboys news sent directly to your phone with Blue Star SMS alerts. Text "bluestar" to 622339 (NBCDFW) to subscribe to this free service. Read more about it here.
