NFL Analysis
4/26/24
4 min read
Patrick Paul NFL Draft 2024: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Miami Dolphins OT
The 2024 NFL Draft is here, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Patrick Paul.
Patrick Paul'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6-foot-7 1/2
- Weight: 331 pounds
- 40-Time: 5.13 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.77 seconds
- Vertical: 29"
- Broad Jump: Did Not Perform (DNP)
- 3-Cone: 7.65 seconds
- Shuttle: DNP
Patrick Paul 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS:
- Outstanding length for the left tackle position with exceptionally long arms. Long, high-cut frame with plus athletic ability.
- Showed strong stopping power to anchor effectively in pass protection and minimize speed-to-power rushes.
- There were pass protection snaps where he engulfed and controlled edge pass rushers with his size and overall length.
- Has grip strength to control rushers once he latches on. Good strength throughout his body to maintain control.
- Some strong pass protection snaps where he showed efficient kick slide with good balance and powerful hands.
- Strong down blocker in run game — generated movement and sustained with his feet driving through the block.
- Had many run-game snaps where he showed contact strength to control and turn the defensive lineman. Has a big body and grip strength.
- Comfortably worked to second level off initial combo blocks in run game. Controlled movement with balance.
- Were snaps where he played with high-level competitiveness and an outstanding playing personality.
WEAKNESSES:
- Has a tendency on 45-degree and vertical sets to play with wide hands, allowing rushers to make first contact inside.
- Naturally upright in body position in pass protection with wide looping hands that too often expose his chest.
- Can be a little sluggish at times with his kick slide, which minimizes his length advantage and forces him to be reactive.
- Needs to learn to use his hands more effectively in pass protection to maximize his outstanding arm length.
- At times, drifted and over-set in vertical sets, creating a soft inside shoulder and vulnerability vs. inside moves.
- Struggled at times with quick inside counters where he did not mirror and redirect with lateral quickness.
- Must improve reactive recovery in pass protection and play with quicker, more explosive, better-placed hands.
- Must be more consistent in playing with force and power as a run blocker. Too many times, he leans rather than drives.
- Did not consistently play to his length and movement in the run game — at times struggling to execute cut-off blocks.
NFL TRANSITION:
Paul is one of the more intriguing offensive tackle prospects in the 2024 draft class as you project his transition to the next level.
He has outstanding length overall — including exceptional arm length — and possesses good athletic ability and movement for the offensive tackle position. But based on his 2023 tape, he needs to work on his fundamental technique in pass protection to play with better balance, leverage and hand use.
Paul consistently showed the tendency to play with wide hands on his 45-degree and vertical pass sets — too often, that allowed pass rushers to make first contact and get into his chest, which negated his arm length and power.
He needs to play snap after snap with more tenacity and aggressiveness because there are too many reps where his movement — especially in pass protection — looks a little sluggish. It's almost as if he is relying solely on his outstanding physical traits, but he'll be exposed by quality pass rushers who know how to work him and break down his technique.
What stands out with Paul is that he did not consistently play to his athleticism and length. He has a tendency to play too high with his pad level, minimizing his knee bend and balance. That is something he will need to work through at the next level to become a quality left tackle.
Overall, Paul is a higher-level-traits left tackle prospect with outstanding length, plus athletic movement and strong hands and play strength who showed throughout his 2023 tape that he can be a quality and at times dominant player at his position. At his best, Paul looked like a starting NFL left tackle — with the question being how quickly he can play at the needed level, especially in 1-on-1 pass protection in third-down situations.
OTHER NOTES:
Paul started 44 games at left tackle in his five-year career at Houston. He started the final three games of his true freshman season but missed all but the first two games of his sophomore season with an injury.
Paul then started every game in his final three seasons, earning some All-American recognition in 2023.
