Dolphins rookie offensive tackle Patrick Paul got his first taste of NFL action Friday in a preseason contest against the Altana Falcons. While preseason result don’t count for much, they provide players entering their rookie season a chance to show what they’ve got against other NFL competition.
Paul took advantage of the opportunity in the Dolphins’ 20-13 win over Atlanta. The 6-7, 332-pound lineman used that size effectively as a pass blocker and looked like a mauler in the running game.
Patrick Paul was solid in his first NFL action. He had some awesome reps in both the run and passing game. Fluid mover for his size and plays through the whistle. I’m very interested to see how he looks the next 2 preseason games. pic.twitter.com/aVN5CLNkTK
— Finscentral (@finscentral) August 11, 2024
“There are moments in it where you just go out there and you just realize ‘yeah I can do this, this is what I’m made for,'” Paul said after the game. “I’ve had those moments. You just got to keep building, trusting in [offensive line coach Butch Barry’s] coaching and trusting in what their plan is for me.”
The questions surrounding Paul after the 2024 NFL draft were about his fundamentals and footwork. While this game showed improvements, there is still more work to be done in order for him to be ready for regular season action.
Second-round selections like Paul are often expected to be starters immediately. Miami currently has their starting tackles established with Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson, but the slots behind them on the depth chart are wide open.
With Armstead’s injury history, the Dolphins may need Paul to be ready for regular season NFL action sooner rather than later. Friday night was a good sign that he’s on the right track.
