Paul

Dawson

Dawson was the 99th pick in last year’s draft, so the Bengals are admitting this mistake pretty early. He played just 35 defensive snaps as a rookie while also covering kicks. Dawson might re-join the team on the practice squad.

Dawson and Shaw project as early-career special teamers who could become factors on defense down the road. Hardison was one of the more underrated three-technique interior pass-rush prospects in this year’s draft. The Bengals selected Hardison over Grady Jarrett, who was beloved in the draftnik community.

Dawson (6'0/235) was a tackle machine on the Horned Frogs’ defense, recording 38 career TFLs as a two-year starter. He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Although Dawson was a dominant college defender, he earned a reputation for persistent tardiness at TCU, and is a poor athlete, running 4.93 with a 28-inch vertical and 9-foot-1 broad jump. Dawson’s best NFL fit may be in an Larry Foote-type role where he’s protected by a nose tackle and isn’t asked to play in coverage. Otherwise, he’ll have to become a big-time special teamer to last in the pros.

Dawson was a tackle machine on the Horned Frogs’ defense, but was exposed as a sub-par athlete in Indianapolis. At an already smallish 6-foot, 235, Dawson managed a broad jump of 9-foot-1 with a 28-inch vertical. The measurables may drop Dawson from a prospect considered amongst the top 50 into the mid to late rounds. This Combine is going to cost Dawson a lot of money.