The Washington Commanders need a young left tackle for the future. Charles Leno Jr. is entering his 10th NFL season in 2023 and third with Washington. While Leno is a serviceable player, Washington fans were accustomed to seeing Chris Samuels and Trent Williams man the left tackle position.
Leno will start at left tackle for the Commanders in 2023, but depending on what happens with Sam Howell at quarterback, left tackle is expected to be a major focus area for Washington in 2024.
Fortunately for the Commanders and other teams that need a left tackle, the 2024 NFL draft should have plenty of good options. Joe Alt [Notre Dame], Olu Fashanu [Penn State] and JC Latham [Alabama] are all top options that could go in the top 10. Fashanu would be a contender for the No. 1 overall selection if not for the expected entries of quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. Alt is a top-five prospect himself.
Another offensive tackle to watch is Patrick Paul of Houston. Paul is a 6-foot-7, 315-pound prospect with 32 career starts on his resume. He has outstanding size and prototypical length to play left tackle at the next level. He’s also the younger brother of Commanders guard Chris Paul.
Chris Paul was a four-year starter at Tulsa, playing all across the offensive line. A seventh-round pick by Washington in the 2022 NFL draft, Paul is competing with Saahdiq Charles to start at left guard in 2023.
Patrick Paul certainly appreciates the path his brother paved for him.
“It’s definitely great because he’s been there and done that,” Paul said, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston. “He’s someone I can ask about the process. It hits home. I’m very proud of him. It’s motivation for me. Now, I have to prove myself and hopefully get there with him. He’s leading the way. When it’s my turn, I know what to do.”
The younger Paul is a two-time first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection and will play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl next January. The Senior Bowl is the top showcase for draft-eligible players.
While the size and talent are there, it’s the younger Paul’s mentality that sets him apart.
“Keep him away from the quarterback; no one gets past me,” Paul told Wilson. “My offensive line coach fosters that it’s a big thing to finish and go past the whistle. I play the game with that dog mentality.”
Patrick Paul has a chance to make a lot of money in 2023, and, who knows, perhaps he could join his brother on the left side of Washington’s offensive line in 2024.
