Category: Miami Dolphins

WATCH: Highlights of Dolphins 2nd-round draft pick Patrick Paul

Highlights of Dolphins new offensive tackle Patrick Paul against Texas and Texas Tech.

The Miami Dolphins used their second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to select Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul. It was obvious heading into the 2024 NFL Draft that the Dolphins needed to address the offensive line. Many mock drafts had the Dolphins using their first-round pick on a tackle or guard.

This draft class was loaded with offensive linemen, and they were in high demand during the first two rounds. At pick No. 55 overall, Paul was the 12th offensive lineman selected.

According to Pro Football Focus, Paul was on the field for 778 offensive snaps in 12 games last season for the Cougars and allowed just one sack and seven hurries. All of Paul’s snaps the last three seasons were at left tackle, suggesting he will likely start the season behind Terron Armstead.

Paul’s size is the attribute that jumps off the page. He stands at 6’8, 331 pounds and has a wingspan over seven feet. He is a physically imposing lineman who could develop into an exciting player for the Dolphins. Considering Armstead’s injury history, the Dolphins should waste no time getting Paul fundamentally ready to be a quality lineman at the NFL level.

To give fans a glimpse of Paul’s potential, here’s a highlight video of him in action:

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Instant analysis of Dolphins’ No. 55 overall pick OT Patrick Paul

The Dolphins didn’t wait long to beef up their offensive line in the 2024 NFL draft.

Some expected the Miami Dolphins to add to their offensive line in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft Thursday night. They instead spent the No. 21 overall pick on Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson.

However, they didn’t wait much longer before beefing up the offensive line. Miami selected Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul with the No. 55 pick in the second round Friday night.

The 6’8, 331-pound tackle is an absolute unit and should prove to be an especially strong investment in the coming years.

It’s unclear if he will be able to get on the field much early in his rookie season, as the Dolphins are currently set at tackle. Terron Armstead is holding down the left side, and Austin Jackson is fortifying lefty quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside.

Paul took all of his snaps for the past three years at left tackle, so he looks to be more of a future investment. Paul’s size and past don’t make him a likely candidate to move to the interior. Paul himself said he didn’t have guard experience because the foot speed is different at guard than it is at tackle.

While he may not play much as a rookie, he’s in a great situation to develop. If Paul is the planned successor for Armstead, he has time to learn from one of the best.

Armstead has been one of the top tackles for years and may be reaching the end of his career at 32 years old. He’s taken time to consider retirement in recent offseasons. Armstead’s injury history, though, gives Paul a possibility of earning playing time as a rookie. Armstead has never played a full season and has played 23 of a 34 possible games with the Dolphins.

Paul’s strength is pass blocking, as he earned a 91.5 pass block grade from Pro Football Focus last season. His 69.4 run blocking grade was a significant drop off, but that disparity can fit Miami’s offensive identity.

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Dolphins pick Houston OT Patrick Paul at No. 55 in 2024 NFL draft

Patrick Paul, a three-year starter at left tackle for Houston, is the newest member of the Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins selected Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul with the No. 55 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Paul is a massive 6’8, 331-pound lineman who was a full-time starter for three years at left tackle with the Cougars and earned all-conference honors each season. While he has the physical profile of a star tackle, inconsistency with balance and pad level is likely the explanation for his availability outside the top 50.

Fortunately for the Dolphins, he likely won’t start early in his career as the team has Terron Armstead at left tackle and Austin Jackson at right tackle. The team also re-signed Kendall Lamm, a versatile backup who stepped in admirably for Armstead when the latter was injured in 2023.

However, both Armstead and Lamm could be entering their final seasons in the NFL and the Dolphins don’t have much depth in the event of injuries.

On Thursday, the Dolphins addressed their pass rush by picking Penn State’s Chop Robinson in the first round at No. 21 overall. After picking Paul, Miami currently doesn’t own another selection until No. 158 overall in the fifth round which will happen Saturday afternoon.

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Penn State coach James Franklin surprises Chop Robinson at draft party

James Franklin managed to drive across Maryland with only seconds to spare to celebrate with Chop Robinson on Thursday night.

The Penn State Nittany Lions saw two of their players get picked in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. The New York Jets took offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu at No. 11 overall and the Miami Dolphins picked pass rusher Chop Robinson 10 selections later.

Penn State coach James Franklin was there to celebrate with both players.

While both are from the state of Maryland, it takes about an hour to make the drive from Fashanu’s hometown to Robinson’s. So Franklin barely made it in time for Robinson to get the phone call from the Dolphins and celebrate with the family.

A video posted by the Penn State football program shows Franklin burst through the front door while Robinson is already talking to Dolphins general manager Chris Grier.

While he was there to celebrate with Robinson in person, Franklin also went to social media to congratulate him.

Robinson began his collegiate career with the Maryland Terrapins before transferring to join Penn State in 2022. In his final season with the team, Robinson earned First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-American honors.

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Chop Robinson wants to wear No. 44 with the Dolphins, but it’s taken

Chop Robinson says he’d like to wear No. 44 with the Dolphins, but that jersey has belonged to long snapper Blake Ferguson.

Chop Robinson wore No. 44 during his two seasons with the Penn State Nittany Lions. He’d like to wear it with the Miami Dolphins too.

“Of course 44, but I don’t know who has 44 or if it’s open, so I haven’t really looked at it yet,” Robinson told reporters, via Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel.

Just one problem: Dolphins long snapper Blake Ferguson has been the proud owner of No. 44 since he was picked by the team in the 2020 NFL draft.

So far, Ferguson hasn’t said anything about the possibility of handing the number over to the rookie. He did, however, celebrate the pick when it was made Thursday night.

Robinson didn’t sound particularly concerned about the possibility that he’d have to change numbers, though. He wore No. 4 during his one season with the Maryland Terrapins and he was Nos. 42 and 44 in high school.

Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou owns the No. 4 jersey. Maybe a return to No. 42, which is currently unclaimed, would interest Robinson. Either way, it doesn’t seem like a battle for No. 44 is on the way.

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Dolphins turned away ‘4 or 5 teams’ that wanted to trade for No. 21

The Dolphins had the option to trade down from No. 21, but decided it wasn’t worth the risk of possibly losing out on Chop Robinson.

The Miami Dolphins entered the 2024 NFL draft without third- or fourth-round selections, making the team an obvious candidate to trade back in the first round to recoup some mid-round value.

But when teams came calling for the No. 21 overall selection Thursday night, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier wasn’t interested.

“The phone calls all at that point were really coming into us about people trying to move up to our spot,” Grier said Thursday night. “We had about four or five teams that were trying to move into our spot and as the board kept falling to us, which we thought it would … we decided to stay where we were because the offers weren’t enticing enough for us to move.”

It’s anyone’s guess how much the Dolphins were offered for the No. 21 pick. Three selections after Miami took pass rusher Chop Robinson, the Detroit Lions traded up from No. 29 to No. 24 by making a deal that sent a third-rounder (No. 73 overall) to the Dallas Cowboys.

According to most trade value charts, that was a big price to pay to go up five spots in the first round and would’ve been fair compensation to send the Lions from No. 29 to No. 21.

It would make sense if the Dolphins were hypothetically offered the No. 73 selection to slide down eight spots in the order. And it would also be logical if Miami determined it was unlikely to end up with a player as good as Robinson by taking that deal.

Grier told reporters Thursday night that Robinson “was our targeted player.” So much so that other teams couldn’t convince the Dolphins to slide away from the No. 21 pick.

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WATCH: Chop Robinson learns he’s joining the Dolphins

Chop Robinson was pumped Thursday night when he found out he was joining the Dolphins.

There are always relatively awkward moments during the NFL draft when a player looks miserable learning which team he’s joining. It’s mostly due to television feed delays, like when Joe Alt stared into the void while ESPN talked about the Los Angeles Chargers picking him.

The Miami Dolphins didn’t have to worry about figuring out Chop Robinson was feeling when he became the No. 21 overall pick Thursday night. The former Penn State pass rusher’s excitement was palpable on both sides of the phone call.

“I feel like it’s a great fit for me,” Robinson told reporters later Thursday night. “I know it’s beautiful weather in Miami. I don’t know much about the city because I’ve never been that way, but I know I’ll have a great time there just enjoying with my teammates and being part of the team.”

So to answer Mike McDaniel’s question, yes, it sounds like Robinson is very OK with becoming the newest member of the Dolphins.

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Dolphins tried to trade for another 1st-round pick, says Chris Grier

Chris Grier says the Dolphins made an effort to trade back into the first round after picking Chop Robinson.

When the Miami Dolphins picked pass rusher Chop Robinson at No. 21 overall Thursday, general manager Chris Grier didn’t call it a night. He took a shot at putting together a trade for another pick in the first round.

“We were sitting there, there were a couple players at the end we were excited for, so we were active even trying to get back in to get another one here in the late first,” Grier said.

With the No. 55 pick in the second round as the only other top 150 selection still in the Dolphins’ arsenal after picking Robinson, it’s possible Miami dangled 2025 first- or second-round picks as trade bait in their effort to get another 2024 first-rounder.

Who would’ve been worth such an offer? Perhaps 6’8 offensive tackle Tyler Guyton who visited the Dolphins earlier this month before getting picked by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. Or speedy Texas receiver Xavier Worthy, who was reportedly “circled for Miami” by some teams, but instead landed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Unsurprisingly, Grier didn’t divulge which players kept him on the phones late into the night Thursday. Maybe one of those prospects is still on the board and the Dolphins will make an effort to climb early on Friday.

While many thought the Dolphins would aim to trade back in the first round and recoup the mid-round selections they’re missing, evidently that’s not the strategy Grier has in mind.

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Dolphins’ Chop Robinson says hand technique caused lack of production

How does a pass rusher as athletic as Chop Robinson only record nine sacks in two seasons? He explained Thursday night.

The Miami Dolphins’ newly drafted edge rusher Chop Robinson has been a top prospect for the past year, and ended up getting selected at No. 21 overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

The former Nittany Lions lineman was an elite athlete, but the production didn’t always match his athletic profile. While at Penn State, Robinson totaled 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in two seasons.

His in-game stats may not have popped off the stat sheet, but he says he knows why he wasn’t a sack machine.

“It was just being inconsistent with my hands,” Robinson told reporters after he was drafted Thursday night. “I know I had the speed and the bend, but sometimes I forget to use my hands. But that’s something I’ve been working on this whole offseason, and I feel very confident because I’ve been working on this so much repeatedly, and I know it’s going to be natural when it comes time to put my hands to use.”

Despite his lack of production, Robinson tested at the top of his position at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. He finished top two in the 40-yard dash (4.48 seconds), 10-yard split (1.54 seconds), 20-yard shuttle (4.25 seconds), and broad jump (128 inches).

With elite athleticism and room to improve technically, Robinson is happy with the situation he’s entering in Miami. He’ll soon join a group of edge rushers that includes Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Shaquil Barrett.

“I feel like that’s going to be a great situation for me – come in there, learn from those guys, compete every day, being able to take things from them and take it to my game and vice versa,” Robinson said. “It’ll be a great thing for me.”

The Dolphins hope it’ll be a great thing for them too and that his NFL production will match his athleticism.

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How to watch Day 2 of 2024 NFL Draft: TV channel, time, stream

The 2024 NFL draft will continue tonight with rounds two and three.

The Miami Dolphins started their 2024 NFL draft by sitting pat at No. 21 overall and taking Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson.

It was a little bit of a surprise, as oddsmakers thought offensive line would be the priority and few mock drafts had Robinson being the pick. On the other hand, the Dolphins entered the draft with a dicey situation at pass rusher with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both recovering from season-ending injuries.

Now the Dolphins enter the second day of the draft with work to do in the trenches on both sides of the ball. For now, though, the team’s only Day 2 selection is at No. 55 overall. Here’s how to tune in for the second day of the 2024 NFL draft:

2024 NFL DRAFT, ROUNDs 2 & 3

  • Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
  • Time: 7 p.m ET
  • Location: Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza, Detroit
  • TV Channel: ABC, ESPN2, NFL Network
  • Live Stream: NFL+, ESPN (app), ABC (app), NFL GamePass (international)

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