The Dolphins are hoping second-round pick Patrick Paul can eventually replace Pro Bowl offensive tackle Terron Armstead, but the rookie wasn’t expected to play a significant role in 2024. However, Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com believes Paul could quickly climb the depth chart and displace incumbent swing OT Kendall Lamm.
Lamm is entering his third year in Miami and is coming off a 2024 season where he got into 613 offensive snaps, the second-highest total of his career. With Armstead having missed 11 regular season games through his first two years in Miami, the team’s OT3 will surely be counted on at several points during the upcoming campaign.
At the moment, that would be Lamm, who is penciled in behind Armstead and Austin Jackson on the depth chart. But Beasley believes Paul “has a real chance” at jumping into that role for the 2024 campaign. On some teams, Paul might be in line for a starting role after establishing himself as one of the draft’s top OT prospects. The Houston product was first-team All-Big-12 in 2023 before being selected by the Dolphins with the No. 55 pick. The six-foot-seven, 331-pound lineman was obviously lauded for his size, but Dolphins OL coach Butch Barry recently noted that the rookie has displayed other elite skills.
“You can see that he’s got great length and great athleticism,” Barry told Beasley. “A guy that wants to learn, a guy that wants to be the best that he can be. I think that we have quality veterans that can really help in that…But he’s got so much upside for us to work with, and we just have to keep honing in.”
As the coach noted, Paul will lean on his veteran teammates throughout training camp. He’s already found a mentor in Armstead, who has been more than happy to help his newest teammate.
“I’ve had a short time with Patrick so far. I’ve seen some great things on the field, impressive for sure,” Armstead said. “Got a lot to learn, a lot of areas to improve in, but you see it — for sure, you see the potential. You see why he’s here. Smart young man, but any and everything that I can possibly give, show, say, see is going to be offered to him.”
Lamm doesn’t bring the same upside as his newest teammate, but he obviously provides more experience. The former UDFA has managed to stick around the NFL for nearly a decade, getting into 104 career games. The veteran inked a new one-year, $2.5MM deal with Miami this offseason, and the team could clear $900K if they decide to move on from the 32-year-old during training camp.