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With the 99th-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Bengals grabbed TCU linebacker P.J.Dawson for a much-needed boost to one of their thinner positions.
This was the pick the Bengals got as a result of Michael Johnson leaving to sign with the Buccaneers last year, even though they cut him this offseason before he re-signed with Cincinnati. This was also the final pick of Round 3, but it was easily one the best selections Cincinnati made in terms of value.
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Dawson was a force at TCU in 2014, leading the defense with 136 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and four interceptions on his way to being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Many expected him to go somewhere in Round 2, but character concerns and a poor combine helped him fall right into the Bengals' lap.
- NFL.com's Lance Zierlein gave Dawson a second-round projection and the 34th-overall prospect, three spots behind Bengals' second-round pick Jake Fisher.
- Mel Kiper had him 69th in his final rankings.
- Todd McShay tabbed Dawson as his 74th-best prospect.
- Bleacher Report's Matt Miller was very high on Dawson, ranking him as the 39-best prospect.
- Mocking the Draft was also very high on Dawson, ranking him as their 30th-overall prospect.
- CBS Sports had Dawson ranked as their No. 84 prospect.
If you average all six of those rankings, Dawson had a draft ranking of 55, meaning he should gone somewhere in the mid-to-late second round. Given the Bengals drafted him with the 99th pick, it shows they got very good value with Dawson at this spot.