Paul Dawson
Texas Christian, WLB/ILB
Height: 6.2
Weight: 230
Age: 21
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Athleticism: B
A good athlete who sports an overgrown safety’s frame and athleticism. Shows good lateral range on tape. Has explosive downhill movement and impressive closing burst. Very fluid and flexible in his lower body and has the athletic traits to blitz off the edge when called upon to do so.
Run Defense: C
Is a run and chase linebacker who is far better outside of the tackle box than inside of it. Has the range and athletic ability of a will linebacker and has the instincts to constantly put himself in the right place to make plays versus the run. Flashes the ability to shoot through gaps and be disruptive. Can crash the edge. Gets engulfed by offensive linemen and can be challenged by tight end blocks, as well. Is too easily knocked off balance and will wind on the ground far too often when playing inside. Struggles to shed blocks and is more likely to be thrown to the ground than to disengage himself.
Coverage: B
Has a very quick trigger once the ball is in the air. Very good range, closing burst, and instincts for zone coverage. Rarely is he out of place and deliver hard and well timed hits on receivers. Eliminates yards after the catch. Has excellent hands and ball skills to haul in interceptions. Was a former high school wide receiver. Will mug runningbacks in the flat and may incur more holding calls in the NFL.
Tackling: C+
A good form tackler for the most part and doesn’t fall off many tackles or get carried for extra yards on contact. Makes hard contact and drags ballcarriers to the ground. Shows some pop and makes the occasional jarring hit. Didn’t make a number of one-on-one tackles in space at TCU and is somewhat untested in this regard. Had trouble bringing down above average athletes at the quarterback position.
Intangibles: B
Plays a safe and smart linebacker position, rarely taking bait and constantly putting himself in the best position to make a play. Made a number of timely plays. Takes good angles and shows adequate hustle in pursuit. Will pull up on backside pursuit at times, and has a more poised than fiery on field demeanor. Has some trouble identifying quarterback scrambles and keepers.
Red Flags: None
Bottom Line: Paul Dawson has received a lot of hype this past season as an NFL Draft prospect, and rightfully so. He’s a good all-around athlete who has ability to become a difference maker in coverage and versus the outside running game. Dawson may lack some of the desirable traits of a linebacker, but he has plenty to work with to develop into a quality NFL starter.
Comparison: Donald Butler
Grade: 8.2 (3rd Round)
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