The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul plans on taking full advantage. Paul recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Paul also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, living in Nigeria, using length and athleticism to his advantage, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Paul better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Patrick Paul: I was at practice when I received my invite. It was such a surreal moment for me. It felt special to share that moment with one of my teammates, Nelson Ceaser, who also received an invite, for us to be recognized in front of the entire team.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Patrick Paul: I want to compete against the best, and the best are at the Senior Bowl. It’s about wanting to go out there to compete. Showcasing my skill set on the biggest stage imaginable has always been a dream of mine. Hopefully, I’m going to display some talents they haven’t seen from me yet. This is going to give evaluators an entire week to watch me compete against the best of the best.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Patrick Paul: That I’m the best. That I’m a top tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft. I want everybody to see how much I love football. I’m the ultimate competitor. I compete every single play.
JM: How would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself.
Patrick Paul: I would say that I’m tenacious. I have great feet and good hands. I’m a high-motor, effort player that plays through every whistle. I’m extremely coachable. I’d add noble to that. I’m a noble person.
JM: What do you most remember about your journey from Nigeria to the USA?
Patrick Paul: It was a different world. I was born in east Texas and then my parents moved us back home to Nigeria when I was about six years old. We lived there for about two-and-a-half years. It’s a completely different world from Houston, Texas, and the United States of America in general.
Everything about the way of life is very different. The education is different. The way people interact, the language of course. There isn’t even a winter there. It’s totally different. I am thankful to have had that experience. It gave me something to look forward to. My entire family is from Nigeria. There’s more to life out there. It was amazing to learn about my stomping grounds.
JM: What did your parents' sacrifice teach you about hard work?
Patrick Paul: I saw the sacrifices on a daily basis. My parents wanted their kids to succeed. We came back to America for educational opportunities. They always made decisions for the better of us, my brothers and I.
JM: We love that. Watching you on tape, there are a couple of things that pop to me. How do you utilize length and athleticism to your advantage on a snap-by-snap basis?
Patrick Paul: I use length because I understand the tools that I have at my disposal. I use play strength to my advantage. I keep defenders off of me. I understand that I can protect the guard next to me and myself when a blitz or stunt is coming. I use size to my advantage.
JM: If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL offensive tackle, who would you choose and why?
Patrick Paul: That’s a great question. Let me think about that one. Current NFL player? Either Laremy Tunsil or Orlando Brown Jr. More so Tunsil. The type of sets that we take are fairly similar if you watch the tape. I’ve watched a ton of Tunsil tape throughout my time in college. I try to model my sets after his. He plays for my favorite team, the Houston Texans. I’m an East Texas guy, so I’ve always rooted for Houston’s teams. I try to model my sets and hands similar to Tunsil’s.
You said current player, but I’ve also watched a ton of Taylor Lewan. He’s no longer active, but I was a big fan. Tunsil and Lewan, I love their sets. Trent Williams is another one. I love the way those guys approach their pass sets.
JM: Those are some excellent examples to study and learn from. What’s on Patrick Paul’s pre-game playlist?
Patrick Paul: I listen to a lot of Drake. I love Drake. His album Certified Lover Boy. I can listen to any album from Drake before kickoff.
JM: We love that. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Patrick Paul?
Patrick Paul: Honestly, a successful Senior Bowl means I went out there and did what I know I can do. I’m going to compete every single day. I’m going to prove that I’m the best offensive tackle in attendance. That’s going to be my approach on a daily basis. A great Senior Bowl means I played how I know I can play, and practiced how I know I can practice.
