How experts - including Nick Saban - graded Dolphins' pick of Patrick Paul in NFL draft second round
The Miami Dolphins selected Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul with their second-round pick, 55th overall, on Friday night.
The NFL Draft analysts were not so kind on the Paul pick as they were for first-round selection Chop Robinson, the edge rusher out of Penn State.
CBS Sports draft analyst Chris Trapasso gave Miami a C- for Paul. "Strange fit because this is one of the least mobile blockers in the class. Mike McDaniel typically prioritizes athleticism along his offensive line. Absolutely enormous with supreme length. Hand placement is very inconsistent. Gets outside the shoulder pads. Very experienced. Does hit a need."
Then again, Walter Football gave the Dolphins an A for their second-round pick. "I’m all for the Dolphins using resources to protect Tua Tagovailoa, given the injury history with the talented quarterback. Patrick Paul could have gone more than a dozen picks earlier than this, so I really like the value."
NFL.com analyst Eric Edholm did not provide a grade but had mixed reaction to Paul. "He wasn't my favorite OT prospect this year, with Paul giving me some Josh Jones vibes. His mass and reach are impressive, and he has 44 college starts at left tackle. But if Paul is Terron Armstead's eventual replacement, getting a year to develop his craft, this pick might work out."
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Paul, who stands 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, is "enormous." He also said draft analysts had him being selected "in the 50s, and some had him more down in the fourth round. But he has a lot of tools you can work with."
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said Paul had the longest arms he's ever seen - and he's seen millions of them. "Incredible length. When he plays with proper pad level, he can move defenders off the line of scrimmage. He’ll run into trouble [with] balance issues."
Former Alabama (and Dolphins coach) Nick Saban - working the draft for the first time as an analyst for ABC - had this to say: "He has to be able to play with a little more power and he has got to be able to create the ability to anchor (in passing situations as a professional). This is kind of a developmental guy, but the kind of a developmental guy you like because he’s got all the attributes you’re looking for, so when he develops, he can be really good.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted that the Dolphins were looking for some insurance behind veteran offensive tackle Terron Armstead, who likely is playing his final season. "The Dolphins make sure they aren't caught short on the offensive line."
Ditto for ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques: "He's not a finished product but the opportunity to develop behind Armstead for at least a year should prove invaluable for a player the Dolphins couldn't hide their excitement about when speaking to the media after the pick."
More: Dolphins fans are going to like what Chop Robinson's high school coach says about him
Another great Miami tackle, Richmond Webb, a seven-time Pro Bowl pick, announced the pick to the rowdy crowd in Detroit.
And forget about the draft picks. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was lauded by NFL Network draft host Rich Eisen for the suit he was wearing in the draft war room.
More: How experts graded Dolphins' pick of Chop Robinson in NFL draft
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Experts grade Dolphins on second-round pick Patrick Paul
