2015 NFL Draft AFC North Picks: Bengals Select Paul Dawson

For the final pick in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals stayed defense and selected inside linebacker Paul Dawson out of Texas Christian University. He’ll join fellow TCU alumni Andy Dalton.

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Paul Dawson was the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2014. Dawson is a 6’, 235 lb. linebacker who ran a 4.75 40-yard dash and was considered one of Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis’ favorite players in the draft.

Per Cincinnati.com Lewis described Dawson as an instinctive player with “great depth” at the position.

The Bengals have been looking for defensive replacements since losing their defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer last offseason when he accepted the head coaching position with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Bengals did, however, manage to re-sign one of their former third round draft picks, Michael Johnson who left in free agency in the offseason of 2014. Johnson signed a five-year, $43.98 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Johnson’s short stint with the Bucs was marred with injuries and he was released the following March. The Bengals then scooped him up almost immediately this March to rejoin their defensive line.

Ironically, they received this compensatory pick for losing Michael Johnson to free agency the year before, even though they have already res-signed them. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

So far in the NFL Draft the Bengals have gone offensive line for their first two picks, then tight end and wrapped up the first two days with a defensive lineman.

Steeler Nation what is your impression of the Bengals Draft through the first three rounds? Have they done enough to put them over the edge and separate themselves as the driving force of the AFC North or are they doomed to live through a few more one-and-done playoff appearances before slinking back into obscurity with the Browns?

Next: Steelers Select WR Sammie Coates

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