Paul Dawson NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Bengals' 3rd-Round Pick

STRENGTHS

An instinctive, tough linebacker with the skills to play inside or outside in a 4-3 defense, Paul Dawson consistently shows up on film. Dawson's instincts are off-the-charts good. He's quick to read and react and can meet the ball-carrier in the hole or make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Dawson isn't big, but he gets off blocks well and can slip through traffic without getting tied up. He's agile enough to move laterally, pull the chain and go get the ball in front of him or bail and get into coverage. When asked to get into coverage, Dawson's instincts are still top-notch, and they allow him to play very well in-phase with tight ends or backs.

WEAKNESSES

A lack of speed and agility is the chief concern for Dawson. He did not test well at the combine and missed the Senior Bowl with a shoulder injury. When asked to play assignment football, he can get a little lost and find himself out of position. Many will question his size and bulk to play inside, so he may be earmarked for a position change in many draft rooms. Coaches at TCU and area scouts have expressed concern that he's not a hard worker in practice, and he was often late to meetings and practices. He was described as being a "handful."

2014 STATISTICS

Tackles 136
Sacks 6.0
Tackles for Loss 20.0

PRO COMPARISON: Chris Borland, San Francisco 49ers

Sometimes all the athletic tests are overrated, and what matters most is what a player does when the helmet is on. Dawson is impressive on film, and like Chris Borland, he's a gamer who will show up on Sundays.

FINAL GRADE: 6.49/9.00 (Rookie Starter)