One player I believe had a major impact on how NFL teams evaluate edge rushers today is DeMarcus Ware Coming out of Troy in 2005, Ware wasn’t viewed as the traditional prototype by some evaluators at the time, but his combination of production, athletic traits, and movement skills helped reshape what scouts prioritize at the position NFL Combine Measurements & Testing: • 6’4” • 251 pounds • 4.56 40 Yard Dash • 38.5” Vertical Jump • 10’5” Broad Jump • 27 Bench Press Reps • 4.07 Short Shuttle • 6.85 3 Cone Drill From a scouting perspective, Ware helped validate the importance of evaluating movement skills, change of direction ability, flexibility, and functional athleticism instead of simply focusing on height, weight, and strength His 4.07 shuttle and 6.85 three cone were elite numbers for an edge defender and matched exactly what showed up on tape. You saw a player who could explode off the ball, corner tightly, flatten to the quarterback, redirect without losing speed, and finish plays once he cleared the tackle When studying edge rushers today, many of the traits scouts prioritize were consistently displayed by Ware: • Explosive get off and first step • Ability to threaten the outside shoulder of tackles • Flexibility and ankle bend at the top of the rush • Ability to flatten and reduce surface area • Speed to power conversion • Active and violent hands • Pass rush counters and sequencing • Closing burst to the quarterback • Positional versatility • Consistent quarterback disruption I think Ware helped prove that elite edge defenders could come from any level of football and that rare athletic traits combined with pass rush instincts often translate to NFL success Many of the movement traits and testing benchmarks scouts value today became even more important because players like Ware showed how those traits directly translate to NFL production Career Accolades • 138.5 Career Sacks • 9× Pro Bowl Selection • 4× First Team All Pro • 2× Second Team All Pro • Super Bowl 50 Champion • NFL 2000s All Decade Team • NFL 2010s All Decade Team • Pro Football Hall of Fame (2023)

The last time the Cowboys had two 1st round picks in the #NFLDraft was 2005 when they took Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. We went back in time today on @SportsCenter

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