Dolphins' Patrick Paul Under Pressure in Training Camp

Jul 18, 2025 4:30 PM EDT

The Miami Dolphins’ offensive line will look very different in 2025, with three of the five spots being occupied by new faces. The Dolphins signed free agent James Daniels to play left guard, drafted rookie Jonah Savaiinaea to play right guard, and will lean on second-year player Patrick Paul to replace Terron Armstead at left tackle.

Armstead anchored the Dolphins’ offensive line at left tackle for the last three years before he announced his retirement this offseason. Now, Paul is tasked with replacing Armstead at the position in 2025.

The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad named Paul as a player under the most pressure in Dolphins training camp this year.

“Patrick Paul is a gentle giant. And in no way am I exaggerating when I say he is a giant. Paul has ideal height and wingspan and can move well for a gargantuan individual. But he’s not Terron Armstead. At least not yet,” Schad wrote. “Paul must grow and grow (not literally, of course) into the player GM Chris Grier and OL coach Butch Barry imagine in their dreams. There will be mishaps and slip-ups. There will be positives in the run game. But Paul must avoid the catastrophic pass pro Sundays.”

Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Patrick Paul (52) in action during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. — Source: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Dolphins drafted Paul in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he started three games during his rookie season. Replacing the five-time Pro-Bowler at left tackle won’t be easy, but Armstead has already given the young offensive lineman his vote of confidence.

“Pat Paul will do his part. I promise you that. He’ll do his part,” Armstead said (h/t ESPN.com). “He will work his butt off. He’s going to use his talents and his abilities, his strengths. Everything that happens after that is going to be out of his control.”

Paul definitely measures up to find success at the position. The second-year player was raw coming out of Houston, with impressive size. Paul stands 6-foot-7, 332 pounds, and lost 10 pounds this offseason.

The rookie took advantage of Armstead’s veteran presence last year and is ready to grow into his role this season.

“I think I just matured in my game. That just comes with time. I think [playing] offensive line is hard, and as you go day by day, you’re just going to keep fine-tuning your skills and one day it’s just going to click,” Paul said (h/t ESPN.com). “I think that everything that we do out here day by day is just going to start getting easier, and I think I’ve reached that point where I know what it is, I know what to expect from me and I know how to do it.”

Getting playing time in his rookie season was huge for Paul. Despite starting just three games, the rookie played in all 17 games. His work throughout the season and offseason impressed head coach Mike McDaniel, and gave him the confidence that Paul is ready for the next step.

“I think for one, he epitomizes a player that didn’t waste his rookie season,” McDaniel said (h/t ESPN.com). “He had a huge transition to make in terms of style of play and kind of really the detail that we ask tackles to play with, and he had Terron Armstead in the building every day. He had a ton of veteran leadership within the room, and he really chopped wood each and every day.

“I see him doing things every day in individual [drills] that are top-tier things. I see him in group work do some things that I think some of the defensive players are surprised by, and then I see room for growth every day.”

Dolphins’ training camp begins on July 23, and many eyes will be on Paul. Despite being halfway through the offseason, training camp is where you can learn a lot about a player, especially those in the trenches. It will be the first time this offseason that the players will be in pads.

There will be a lot of pressure on Paul in 2025 to fill the void Armstead has left, but the second-year left tackle doesn’t feel the pressure. He’s just ready to go.

“No, not really. I’m built for this,” Paul said. “Always been ready for the moment, and that’s why I play football — to compete at the highest level and to be the best at my job, so I’m ready.”