Patrick Paul: The Miami Dolphins' Trash-Talking Powerhouse on the Field

By all accounts, Patrick Paul is a nice guy. When he addresses the media, he's soft-spoken but confident, always smiling and polite. Even at 6-foot-7, 332 pounds, his demeanor is gentle—disarming, even. Off the field, that is.

On the field, the Miami Dolphins' new starting left tackle knows how to get under opponents' skin, even when that opponent is his teammate.

A Formidable Presence

"He's annoying as hell to go against, I'll tell you that much, because he is a s--- talker," Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips said. "During practice, I hate him, but afterwards, the only thing I can do is admire him and admire his physical presence, admire his skill set, admire his athleticism, admire his work ethic and like you said, his ability to make adjustments and corrections. I think he's going to be a fabulous player, and he already has made a big step in this league."

Rising Star

Entering his second NFL season, Paul is tasked with succeeding former Pro Bowler Terron Armstead, who announced his retirement in April. A second-round pick in 2024, Paul started three games as a rookie but showed the Dolphins' staff enough to put their faith in him this season.

Phillips said Paul was a trash talker as a rookie last year, as well, but "he backs it up more" now. His teammates share that same belief.

Team Dynamics

"Pat, man—night and day from last year. Pat has grown into a really good player, man," Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell said. "I'm excited that he's going to be starting for us this year. He's been great. We're definitely having conversations in our room about the way he's shooting his hands, his body and things he's doing and that nature."

The Art of Trash Talk

Paul laughed when asked about Phillips' comments and admitted to needling his teammate and neighbor when they're on the practice field. He also said his style of trash talk is modeled after one of sports' all-time great instigators.

"I think it makes it fun," Paul said. "One of my favorite athletes growing up was Conor McGregor, and I liked his approach to it. He'd beat the people before he even went against them just purely off of getting in their head. It just depends on the person, depends on the day they're having also, their approach, but it's easy to get under someone's skin."

Work Ethic and Growth

Dolphins center Aaron Brewer said Paul was training two-to-three times a day during the offseason, which inspired him to do the same. Paul said he rewatched all of his reps from last season and then studied every left tackle in the league to see what he could learn.

That work ethic has made an impression on Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

"He's out to prove something, but he understands the connectivity of the work and the result," McDaniel said. "Not chasing the result, chasing the work to get the result. ..."

Conclusion

Patrick Paul's unique combination of skill, athleticism, and psychological tactics makes him a formidable opponent on the field. His teammates and coaches recognize his potential and are excited to see how he will continue to develop in the upcoming season.