Possible First-Round Brown: OLB Dan Connor

At 6’3″, 233 lbs, OLB Dan Connor out of Penn State is getting plenty of buzz in many mock drafts.  Some people have him pegged as a top-ten pick while others have him falling somewhere in the mid to late first round.  The hype surrounding him is that many compare him to another highly-touted prospect out of Penn State – Paul Posluszny.

• While he is a bit undersized, he is known for being a ball hawk, which will be important.  Connor is a strong tackler who excels at creating tackles for loss.
• Above average athletically – while his speed won’t blow anyone away, it is strong for a linebacker.
• The consensus is that Connor will need to bulk up to take on blockers, but he is known for his intensity and desire, so his weight room attendance should not be an issue.
• While he gets stronger and adjusts to the size of the NFL, he will retain his strengths in sideline-to-sideline range and coverage.
• Considered to have a few character concerns, but who among us hasn’t made harassing phone calls to a former assistant coach at one point?

Connor could be the product of being “overhyped,” simply because he is coming out one year after Posluszny.  However, with his added athleticism and intensity, there is reason to believe he will become a solid NFL linebacker.  The Browns could use someone to consistently zero in on the ball and have the ability to be that kind of player who seems to be in on every single play.  Connor excels at creating busted plays, accouting for 15 tackles for a loss in his senior season.