The Miami Dolphins drafted Patrick Paul in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but how soon will he be expected to contribute?

Earlier in the week, I gave my initial thoughts on Miami Dolphins' first-round draft pick, Chop Robinson. The explosive pass-rusher from Penn State will be a versatile piece for new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense. But at the time, many fans were frustrated with the selection because they knew how important it was to solidify the Offensive line. After all, keeping quarterback Tua Tagovailoa upright is of the utmost importance.

Thankfully, fans only had to wait 34 picks before General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel addressed the offensive line. However, instead of drafting an interior lineman as many predicted, the Dolphins went for a boom-or-bust giant at left tackle. Was it the right pick for a team in win-now mode?!

Here’s my Film breakdown on Miami Dolphins offensive tackle, Patrick Paul.

Biography

Name: Patrick Paul

Height: 6’7 1/2”

Weight: 331 lbs.

Arm: 36 1/4”

Hand: 9 3/8”

40 Time: 5.13

10-yard Split: 1.77

What the Scouts are Saying...

“Long, athletic left tackle prospect whose pass protection is much further ahead of his run blocking. Paul’s hands are more active than well-timed or accurate in pass protection, but he does a nice job of muting rush challenges with a decent anchor and an adequate mirror around the top of the arc. He’s high-cut with a tendency to bend at the waist into contact. He struggles to sustain and finish as a run blocker but that doesn’t appear to be an issue in pass protection. Paul should continue to add play strength, but he also needs to display better effort and full-time grit if he wants to square off against NFL run defenders and become a well-rounded left tackle.” - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“Patrick Paul is a four-year starting left tackle inside Houston’s RPO-heavy, balanced (53-47 run-pass split), zone-based run scheme with a tall, high-cut frame, excellent arm length and good athletic ability.

Paul shows good quickness out of his stance with a mixture of 45-degree/angle and vertical sets to get to his landmarks on time. He has the range to expand his set points and stay attached against high-side rushes, too....

Overall, Paul still needs significant technique work to play with better leverage, control and sustain skills. But he has ideal length with starter-level athletic ability, play strength and a nasty demeanor that can be harnessed into a starting role within his first few seasons. - Brandon Thorne, Bleacher Report.”

What the Houtz is Saying...

At 6’ 7”, Patrick Paul is massive. A real-life T-Rex that moves better than you’d expect for a man of his size. He does have areas of his game he needs to refine, primarily with his handwork and effectiveness in the run game, but there’s a lot to like about the player. In pass protection, for example, he rarely gets pushed around or beaten with power. His large frame and vine-like arms allow him to, quite literally, body EDGE rushers. That said, he is a bit of a project, which is something the Dolphins can (and can’t) afford with Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm under contract through the upcoming season. Speaking of Lamm and Armstead, both players can help Paul refine some of his traits and potentially help him improve.

It also doesn’t hurt that McDaniel, Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith, and Butch Barry have proven more than capable of coaching up some of the younger players, which should benefit Paul. That said, if the Dolphins didn’t have Butch Barry coaching the offensive line and Terron Armstead’s veteran presence, I might feel a lot queasier about the Patrick Paul pick. But one look at Paul’s tape, and you can quickly see the vision.

He’s a mammoth with a ton of upside and plenty of room for growth. Unfortunately, for a team in win-now mode, Paul is unlikely to get valuable snaps until next season unless they plan to utilize him in the short term as a sixth offensive lineman, similar to the way the San Francisco 49ers have in the past. I mean, could you imagine an unbalanced line with Paul next to Austin Jackson on the right side of the line? What about Armstead on the left? Nah, they wouldn’t do that, would they?!?! ;) Would they!?!?

Ultimately, Dolphins fans wanted an offensive lineman — any offensive lineman, and after watching the tape, I’m more than happy waiting to see how this coaching staff handles Paul’s development. After all, it seems like just yesterday we were all ready to give up on Austin Jackson. How did that work out again?

(Spoiler Alert: I have egg on my face!)

Film

Games Watched: Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, Senior Bowl

Conclusion

If you ask me today whether Patrick Paul will be the next great Miami Dolphins offensive lineman, my answer would be split 50-50 down the middle. Not just because Paul is a rookie, yet to play a single snap, but because he has a lot of work to do. He needs to improve mightily in the run game and work on his handwork this offseason. I’d also like to see him develop a bit more of an edge and show some of that tenacity he spoke about pre-draft. That said, based on the film, his potential, those who will be teaching him, and the guy who made the selection on draft day (Get Richmond Webb into the Hall of Fame!), there’s a very good chance Patrick Paul will be Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside protector of the future. #InButchBarryWeTrust

What are your thoughts on the Miami Dolphins drafting Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul? How do you think he projects long-term on Miami’s offensive line? Was there a player available at #55 that you would have preferred? Let us know in the comments section below!