Tag: Patrick Paul

WATCH: Patrick Paul gets the call to learn he’s joining the Dolphins

Patrick Paul wanted to wind up with the Dolphins, so he was excited when he got the call from Miami on Friday night.

Shortly after picking offensive tackle Patrick Paul in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said the lineman really, really wanted to wind up in aqua and orange.

“On the visit here, he had expressed to us, ‘I don’t want to be anywhere but here,’” Grier said. “And then all through early this morning up to our pick, it was a barrage of text messages, not from him, from his agent saying, ‘The kid is driving me crazy. He wants to be here.’”

Paul got his wish when the Dolphins called him up Friday to tell him that he would be the No. 55 overall selection in the second round. As you can imagine, the offensive tackle was excited to get the call.

“I knew that I wanted to be coached by coach [Mike] McDaniel and [offensive line] coach Butch Barry and it was amazing,” Paul told reporters later Friday night. “It was something I knew from the minute I started talking to them that I wanted to be a Miami Dolphin, so this is a blessing.”

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

See the Dolphins’ new offensive tackle in action during his impressive collegiate career.

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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Houston Texans select Houston OT Patrick Paul with the 55th overall pick. Grade: B+

The Texans went hometown with the addition of Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul, one of the more adept pass-blockers in this class.

Well, the Texans didn’t have to travel far to get a good look at Houston left tackle Patrick Paul, and Paul is a nice addition to a roster that’s nearly Super Bowl-ready at this point. With Laremy Tunsil manning the left side, it’s likely that Paul will move to the right side, Paul didn’t play a single snap of right tackle in his five years with the Cougars, but he has the athletic flexibility to do different things. Paul isn’t a pure power guy, but he’s one of the more adept technical pass-blockers in this class.  

Patrick Paul was a three-star recruit out of Jersey Village High School in Houston, Texas, and he went with his hometown school with few other offers. He became a full-time player in 2021, his third season with the Cougars, and by then, he had developed his pass-blocking acumen to an impressive degree. Last season, he allowed one sack, one quarterback hit, and seven quarterback hurries in 496 pass-blocking attempts. Any team with a pass-heavy offense will love him; the question with Paul is whether he has that dawg in him to use his frame to dominate opposing defenders when it’s time to run to daylight.

PLUSES

— Outstanding combination of size (6′ 7½”, 332), arm length, and technique. Paul comes off the plane just looking like a left tackle.

— Has a natural kick-step that allows him to control the arc with his feet under him. Not a ton of wasted movement.

— Paul is really good at catching aggressive pass-rushers who want to displace him by shoving him through the numbers.

— Not a lot of issues with games and stunts; Paul is an aware player with his head on a swivel.

— Has a decent sense of when to attack with his hands; I’d like to see more of that when he hits the NFL, though that’s a personal preference.

MINUSES

— Quick movement outside with his first step might leave him more vulnerable to inside and spin moves at the NFL level. Recovery speed is more decent than spectacular

— For a guy with his agility, Paul’s hit rate outside and upfield is an issue; he needs to work on attacking moving targets.

— Small hands (9⅜”, third-percentile among offensive tackles) may affect his ability to latch on and dominate in power situations.

— Needs some work in the run game to work quickly to seal the edge. You see it once in a while, but he can be a bit of a spectator when you want an alpha dog.

— Overall, I would love to see Paul get defenders on the track more often and just drive them off the screen, because he has the physical potential to do so.

If your preference is for a glass-eating, ass-kicking tackle, Paul will probably not be your favorite. I like him as a big, agile pass-protector with most everything you need in that department. In offenses where pass pro is the order of the day, he’ll be a fine developmental starter. More balanced teams might look at him a bit sideways.

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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2024 NFL draft: Houston OT Patrick Paul believes he’s getting drafted in the 1st round

Is Patrick Paul going to end up a first-round pick?

We all like to believe we know exactly what will happen on Thursday night in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. But as is always the case, when it comes to the bottom of the first round, all bets are off.

One player who we think could sneak into the first round is Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul. This is an opinion Paul seems to share as well. Paul called his shot and said to look for him late on Thursday, which would mean the end of the first round.

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Paul is part of a handful of offensive tackle prospects vying for a spot. Along with Paul there is Tyler Guyton, Jordan Morgan, Roger Rosengarten, Kingsley Suamataia and Kiran Amegadjie who can all make a case to be in the Top 32 picks but unfortunately there just aren’t enough spots to go around.

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Commanders land QB and trade down in the latest ESPN 2-round mock draft

The Commanders land QB, WR and OT after trading down in this two-round mock draft.

While the odds have shifted from Jayden Daniels to Drake Maye as Washington’s first-round pick (No. 2 overall) in the 2024 NFL draft, the majority of mock drafts are sticking with Daniels.

In his latest two-round mock draft for ESPN, Field Yates sticks with Daniels to Washington at No. 2. Here’s Yates’ reasoning:

Forecasting who the Commanders will take is a bit trickier, as the team has not tipped its hand in any meaningful way. So I’ll go with Daniels, the second-ranked player on my board regardless of position, to replace Sam Howell after his trade to Seattle. Daniels was the best player in college football last season, winning the Heisman Trophy, and he blends rare mobility with excellent pocket passing. He averaged more rushing yards per carry (8.4) than any other FBS player in 2023 and led the nation in QBR (95.6).

Yates is right. This is a bit tricky because no one knows. Washington general manager Adam Peters has kept everything close to the vest—a new era indeed for the Commanders.

Washington also has two second-round picks (No. 36 & 40). In Yates’ mock draft, he has the Commanders trading down from No. 36 with the Raiders. That meant Washington’s first second-round pick would come at No. 40.

Yates goes with Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman:

Washington has Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, but Coleman would add a size element (6-foot-3, 213 pounds) to this group for the Commanders’ rookie QB. His ability to win in contested-catch situations would go a long way in the red zone, and he is coming off an 11-TD season at Florida State.

I believe Coleman is a fine player, but there would be better options here for the Commanders.

After the trade down, Washington is back up at No. 44. Yates has the Commanders selecting Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul:

We got the Commanders a new quarterback (Daniels) and receiver (Coleman), but what about the protection? Washington allowed 65 sacks in 2023, tied for second-most. Paul is massive at 6-foot-7 and 332 pounds with 36-inch arms, making him a challenge to get around in pass protection. Also: He’d get to play with his older brother, Chris, a guard for Washington.

Patrick Paul would be a good move here. While he’s not the top tackle, he’d be higher on the list if the class wasn’t so deep. For Washington to land a quality tackle like Paul at No. 44, it’s a good move.

So, in Yates’ two-round mock draft, he has the Commanders landing a quarterback, wide receiver and offensive tackle. Those positions should make all Washington fans happy.

Panthers 2024 post-combine meetings tracker

Does anybody need a list of 2024 draft prospects the Panthers have spoken with thus far? We got you.

The 2024 scouting combine is now in the books. 40s have been dashed, 20s have been shuttled, benches have been pressed and vertical and broads have been jumped.

Oh, and there were plenty of talks to be had.

Among the annual activities at the combine are the meetings between prospects and potentially interested teams. And as far as the Carolina Panthers are concerned, we may have to pay a bit more attention to who they’re talking to since their first pick doesn’t pop up until the second round.

So, we’ll help you out.

Here are all the known players—whether they were at the combine, Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl or even the College Gridiron Showcase—the Panthers have spoken with to this point:

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Giants land a WR, Daniel Jones replacement in latest The 33rd Team mock draft

In the latest mock draft from The 33rd Team, the New York Giants go offense with their first 3 picks, including a receiver and quarterback.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top of the order for the 2024 NFL draft had been set with the New York Giants slated to pick sixth overall.

Despite recent mock drafts trending toward the Giants taking a wide receiver at No. 6 overall, speculation about general manager Joe Schoen taking a quarterback persists.

In the latest mock draft from Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team, the Giants get the best of both worlds, starting with a stud wide receiver.

With the sixth pick, the Giants select LSU’s Malik Nabers with the top three quarterbacks and Marvin Harrison off the board.

In most drafts, Malik Nabers would be the clear-cut No. 1 WR and a lock to be a top-five pick. But in this draft, he’s not even the second pass-catcher off the board. But the New York Giants get a steal at No. 6 with Nabers, who isn’t that far off from Marvin Harrison Jr. in the class. Nabers can be a bonafide No. 1 receiver for New York, which it has been missing since trading away Odell Beckham Jr. 

In Round 2, the Giants select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (39th overall) followed by Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul (47th overall).

The Giants, of course, acquired the 47th pick from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade for Leonard Williams.

A receiver like Nabers could certainly be the focal point of the Giants’ offense, especially if they choose to move on from running back Saquon Barkley and/or tight end Darren Waller.

While it’s uncertain how the selection of Nix would impact Daniel Jones in 2024, conventional logic suggests he’d eventually take over as the starter.

Selecting Paul, however, would signify either giving up on Evan Neal or moving him to the inside to play guard.

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Saints address some of their top needs in this two-round mock draft

The New Orleans Saints addressed some of their top needs in this post-Super Bowl mock draft:

Here’s a good look at how the New Orleans Saints could address some of their top needs in the 2024 NFL draft. Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy shared a two-round mock draft after the Super Bowl now that the draft order has officially been set. And while the Saints are likelier to check high-priority items off their to-do list in March free agency than wait until April’s draft, their picks here would make a lot of fans happy.

To start out, Popejoy has the Saints picking Florida State defensive end Jared Verse with their first-round pick at No. 14 overall. An accomplished pass rusher from a blue blood program, Verse is someone already hot on our radar. He would bring much-needed speed, agility, and overall athleticism off the edge that the Saints have been lacking. Carl Granderson is their only reliable pass rusher at defensive end.

As for the second round, at No. 45 overall: Popejoy likes the Saints to select Houston left tackle Patrick Paul. He was someone we highlighted as a standout at Senior Bowl practices, where he competed against top-flight competition from around the country. While Paul is a similar high-end athlete like Trevor Penning, he has a ton of experience while playing at a higher level of difficulty and should find more success early on in the NFL.

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