Patrick Paul 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Houston’s Patrick Paul was one of the more trendy names at Offensive Tackle going into this past season. Paul has the frame you want for the position at 6’8″, 331 lbs, but a less-than-stellar Senior Bowl and a worse NFL Combine, his stock has taken a serious hit. The potential is there, but is he worth a premium pick in the 2024 NFL Draft? Let’s talk about it.
Paul, a former three-star recruit out of Houston, Texas committed to play for the Cougars in 2019 and played all five seasons there. Paul would become the starter in 2021 at Left Tackle, totaling over 2,573 snaps over three seasons (worth noting, his snap total went down every year), allowing four sacks over that span, with three coming in that first season. 29 QB hurries is not *ideal* but the sack total is what we should focus on.
The potential is there with Patrick Paul. He played football in High School but only started playing offensive line his Senior season before he played Defensive Line. Paul is a knuckle dragger (long arms) and can use that length well, especially if he is beaten early by speed rushers. Plays with a nasty streak, more than willing to finish a block to the ground. Kicks back quickly off the snap to get into the ideal position.
However, Paul has to learn to not basically stand straight up. So much of his tape is him being way too upright. The pad level is also far too high to be able to get any leverage against his defender. With his length, no one should be getting into his chest and landing first, but this is a struggle for him. Not a very good athlete, so don’t ask him to get out on pull plays.
If you have the patience to draft Patrick Paul and let him sit for a full year, maybe two, and let him learn the position, go for it. However, I do not think I could use a premium pick to get him on my roster. I have a late fourth-round, early fifth-round grade on Paul, and would be willing to take a shot on Day Three of the 2024 NFL Draft, but could not turn in the card any sooner than that.
Click here for more 2024 NFL Draft content!
