A key component of the Dolphins’ strategy to erect a solid wall around Tua Tagovailoa is Patrick Paul.
The Dolphins last week at the rookie mini-camp debuted a big new structure. No, there were no surprise off-season upgrades at Hard Rock Stadium, but the Dolphins’ home field will welcome back Patrick Paul for the upcoming campaign. At six feet seven inches and 330 pounds, he’s about as close to the big time without needing to apply for a building permission.
Paul, a lineman from the University of Houston who was chosen 55th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been drawing attention and maybe straining anyone’s neck who tries to look him in the eye. This past weekend was the Dolphins’ mini-camp. Though it was off-limits to the public, pictures from the event went viral on social media, displaying Paul looking like a different animal, especially when compared to other elite athletes.
Class of 2024 🖼️ pic.twitter.com/2B16H1T0ze
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) May 12, 2024
Paul stood out among 12 undrafted prospects, seven draft picks, and a few players on tryouts. There are NFL huge, there are NBA tall, and then there is Paul, who appears to be a hybrid of the two, developed in a lab specifically to guard quarterbacks.
Paul’s appearance was unfamiliar even to some of the most seasoned reporters of the day, such Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. It was all the more challenging because one had to look towards the sun in order to catch a sight of Paul.
Tua Tagovailoa of Miami will rank among the safest quarterbacks in the NFL if Paul performs even half as well as he can shield the sun. The Dolphins might ask Paul to throw a shadow in front of the bench on a few of the hottest days in autumn. The Buffalo Bills are already whining about their disadvantage in the competition!
As if Paul’s size wasn’t noticeable enough as other people were snapping pictures of him with other rookies, Paul grabbed the camera and sent out pictures of teammates that appeared to have been taken from the top of a nearby building.
In his first two years at Houston, Paul was named to the first team All-AAC; in his last year of collegiate play, following the school’s conference switch, he was named to the first team All-Big 12. Thus, there’s no denying that he has the blocking ability to match his size.
In addition, he is the younger brother of Chris Paul, an NFL offensive guard who joined the Washington Commanders in the 2022 draft and is currently a member of the team.
As the 2024 season approaches, Patrick Paul may face competition from Kendall Lamm, a seasoned player who made a name for himself last season covering for an injured Terron Armstead.
Though Paul is considered something of a project player, the Dolphins saw something in him that many found confusing: incredible physical characteristics and the ability to head a reliable offensive line in front of Tagovailoa. At the news conference following the draft, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier stated as much.
“On our board, he had the greatest rating of any player. The length sometimes helps him recuperate, even when he’s not flawless. He can contend for a future role and provide depth.”
From the looks of things, Paul seems like the kind of football player you want on your team.