Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Patrick Paul has been named the breakout candidate for the 2026 season.
The Miami Dolphins' offensive line has the makings of what could be a special unit. This is assuming they gel in a significant way.
Anchored by center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Patrick Paul, the rest of the unit certainly needs some work to ensure it can protect Malik Willis. That said, Paul has already garnered some significant praise, as he was named the team's breakout candidate for 2026.
Paul has established himself as a strong ascending tackle who can certainly take a big leap in his upcoming third season in the NFL. The lineman was named a breakout for the Dolphins by ESPN's Ben Solak.
"The league is as loaded with ascendent young offensive tackles as I can remember, and Paul is at the forefront of that group. Long and rangy, he was excellent on the hoof in Mike McDaniel's diverse running scheme. And Paul should once again excel in new coordinator Bobby Slowik's preferred wide zone approach," Solak wrote.
Paul is familiar with the offensive system in place, having played with Mike McDaniel and Bobby Slowik, the latter of whom is now the offensive coordinator. With a similar install in place, he shouldn't have any sort of learning curve hurdles.
The Miami lineman secured an overall 66.2 grade on Pro Football Focus, which ranks him 45 out of 89 qualified tackles. While that may not sound like a good spot, he is up from 44.9 during his rookie year.
Paul did allow four sacks in 2025, but the line was far more of a mess at the start of the season.
The good aspect of Paul being on the left side is that he will be joined by rookie Kadyn Proctor in the left guard position. Despite not having played a snap at the NFL level just yet, the young lineman is 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds.
Having two bullies on the left side of the line is good news for Willis and the run game, and Paul should benefit greatly from having more support.
Rookie Jonah Savaiinaea was the left guard in 2025 and was the worst-rated guard in the NFL. He has since been moved to the right, where he is far more comfortable.
Saying Proctor will be solid from Day 1 would be a bit premature, but his size and physicality are a big reason why he was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round. If he can live up to the praise he received, he will offer even more as a reliable partner next to Paul.
Brewer indicated that a goal of his was to win Protector of the Year, while having a teammate also be nominated. Paul has the kind of skillset to be that player, or even run away with the award himself if he truly takes the next step in 2026.
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