30. Green Bay Packers -- Paul Dawson, ILB, TCU
The Packers will look to improve their front seven this off-season, especially its interior. Dawson, who does a fine job of recognizing plays, could step in and start at inside linebacker immediately. He is a pin missile with great production, instincts, and toughness. He could ultimately be the first inside linebacker to come off the board.

Alternative: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

Dawson Profile 

SOURCES TELL US "He's an early round player without any question, but you don't have to dig around very deep or very long to realize that his personal character is going to be a major issue for some teams.

BOTTOM LINE Outrageously productive linebacker with a nose for the ball. Dawson averages a tackle every 5.3 snaps and either caused or recovered a total of 8 turnovers during the 2014 season. Evaluators understand that Dawson has been a handful while at TCU and that will turn some teams off to him completely. Dawson can play inside in a 2-gap scheme but is a natural fit at 4-3

I hope Paul Dawson’s character issues are overblown.

Originally Posted by: Gilligan 

I hope so as well. My view is that he needs to nail the interview process. Assuming he does, I think he'll be just fine.

There's a profile of him in USA Today . It's written in his own words. It's worth checking out.

Originally Posted by: porky88 

I hope Paul Dawson’s character issues are overblown.
The guy was a tackling machine at TCU.

With that said, Dawson has admitted to being "tardy a lot" for team functions.
In the NFL you don’t get to be a couple minutes late to meetings or training sessions.

Originally Posted by: Gilligan 

Yes, some draft talk!!!

Porky- I think everyone believes the Packers first choice should be ILB. Where I disagree with you is on the player and taking said player in the first round. I think Dawson is a day 2 pick and in that video, while I see some good plays (he is very good in coverage), I also see a lot of over-pursuit, arm tackles and missed tackles.

Going along with this, I like Eric Kendricks from UCLA if the Packers were going to select someone with their 30th pick. My thought process for this is like Dawson, he is good in coverage. He is a sure tackler and is fast from sideline to sideline. I think he compliments Barrington (a thumper) more than the other linebackers in this class. He's got his head on straight and loves the game. Also, he was the first linebacker from UCLA to take home the Butkus Award. Now the issue is, will he be there when the 30th pick comes around? I even think he'd be worth moving up to take...

My second choice was Denzel Perryman from Miami but I believe he, like Barrington, is a thumper. I wouldn't mind Dawson if the Packers traded out of the 1st round.

Originally Posted by: Yerko