​After concluding the 2023 campaign with an 11-6 record and a wild-card exit at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, where Miami was defeated 26-7, the Dolphins used their second-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft to add offensive tackle Patrick Paul. Paul had spent the previous five years at Houston, earning All-AAC honors twice and All-Big 12 recognition once. He entered the Dolphins organization as the team’s swing tackle, positioned behind Terron Armstead on the left and Austin Jackson on the right.
Though Paul wasn’t slated to be a starter, he was getting substantial offseason reps, particularly because Armstead was away from the team for a portion of that period. In a recent podcast appearance, Armstead disclosed that he initially had to put Paul in his place to curb some early tendencies. “Yeah, you were a little different in the beginning, man,” Armstead recalled. “You were a little hard head. You were checking people and all that good stuff as a rookie. So, you know, I wasn’t there most of the offseason, but when I got there in training camp, I’m looking at you like, ‘Pat, talking to y’all like this? Man, what is going on?’ I had to be a little tough on you at the beginning.”
As a rookie, Paul appeared in 337 total offensive snaps at both tackle spots, stepping in for the two starters and filling a critical depth role. He didn’t enjoy a standout season by the usual benchmarks, but he gained valuable experience and gained a foothold. When Armstead retired after the following offseason, Paul stepped into the starting left tackle job and showed improvement, signaling potential for greater consistency and impact.
Looking ahead to 2026, Paul stands at a pivotal juncture. He has an opportunity to establish himself as a capable, reliable starter and become a core piece for a Dolphins organization under head coach Jeff Hafley and offensive line coach Jon-Eric Sullivan to build around for the future. The path to long-term relevance in Miami now hinges on Paul’s ability to translate that early promise into sustained performance, especially with an eye toward solidifying the left tackle spot as a cornerstone of the offensive line.
This recap reflects reporting related to Patrick Paul and the Dolphins’ offensive line trajectory, and it incorporates context from Armstead’s candid remarks about his early interactions with Paul as the team prepared for the 2024 season. The source material originally appeared on Dolphins Wire under the headline centered on Armstead’s reflections, contributing to the broader narrative about the development of Miami’s blocking unit and its prospects for the coming seasons.