Patrick Paul
Miami DolphinsModel Score
How good he is at what he is supposed to be doing, out of 100. Not a projection of what he will do next, and not a read on his contract. Median is about 70, and a 95 is rare. How it is built →
Season Stats · 17 games
Draft & College
He went earlier than consensus.
Comps
STM Take
Two consecutive tier 3 finishes (#22 as a rookie with limited snaps, #18 in 2025 as the full-time LT) is a steady developmental arc for a 2nd-round LT investment. The progression matches what the Dolphins expected when they drafted him to replace Armstead. At 25 with multiple development years ahead, the 2026 question is whether the trajectory continues to climb or stalls at tier 3.
Paul came out of Houston as Miami's 2nd-round pick (55th overall) in 2024 after a senior season at left tackle for the Cougars. Miami drafted him as the long-term LT replacement for Terron Armstead, who retired after the 2024 season. His rookie 2024 was a developmental year with limited starts (tier 3 #22), and the 2025 season was his first full year as the Dolphins LT, producing another tier 3 finish (#18) that confirms the role is locked in.
Strengths
- Two straight tier 3 finishes (#22, #18) in his first two NFL seasons is a stable developmental arc. 2nd-round draft pedigree from Houston with starter pedigree establishes baseline.
- Replacing Terron Armstead at LT for a contending team is a meaningful early-career role. Mike McDaniel's scheme historically rewards OL stability and continuity.
Concerns
- Two years of tier 3 finishes without a tier 2 jump shows the development has been steady but unspectacular for a 2nd-round LT.
- Tua Tagovailoa's injury history puts a premium on blind-side protection; if Paul's pass-protection technique falters in 2026, Miami has no obvious internal backup.
What to watch: Whether Paul's 2026 finish climbs to tier 2 or whether tier 3 becomes his structural ceiling as the LT.