Here’s hoping drafting Chris Paul is a slam dunk for the Commanders

Chris Paul, OG

School: Tulsa | Conference: AAC

College Experience: Redshirt Senior | Age: 23

Height / Weight: 6’4” / 324 lbs

Projected Draft Status: 4th-6th round

Player Comparison: Ezra Cleveland

Player Overview

Tulsa’s Chris Paul is an interesting person, let alone draft prospect. In high school, the Houston product was team captain and class president. At Tulsa, he is a musical artist, has held several leadership positions, and is working on his MBA after getting a degree in computer information systems. On the field, he was has been Tulsa’s versatile most offensive lineman. He started at right guard as a freshman, switched to left guard as a sophomore, and played his final two years at right tackle. His quality play, his performance at the combine, and his maturity to balance all these interests should have him on many teams’ radar.

Strengths

• Quick out of his stance and moves easily
• Solid base and strong anchor in pass protection
• Hand placement on blocks very good
• Athleticism helps him mirror rushers and recover if beat
• Effective down blocker in the run game

Weaknesses

• Needs to improve strength especially in run game and sustain those blocks
• Improve finding target in space
• At times, upper body disconnected from feet causing him to lunge
• Would like to see him play nastier and until the whistle

Let’s see his work

How He Fits On The Team

With his fantastic performance at the NFL Combine, I was interested to see Chris Paul’s play. It is intriguing because you see his athleticism on display in pass protection. He moves easily, mirrors rushers, anchors and recovers well. But in the run game, Paul needs some work. The strength he shows in pass protection is as obvious in the run game. His athleticism helps him move in space, but he often misses targets in space. A lot of folks project him to play guard, but with his proficiency at pass protection and his athleticism, right tackle isn’t out of the question.

Washington likely has its starting guards in Andrew Norwell and Wes Schweitzer, but it could definitely look to add depth at the position and along the line generally. Saahdiq Charles would be the primary backup at the position, but his play at times has left something to be desired. Paul could be drafted as depth at not only guard, but right tackle as well. Ron Rivera loves position flexibility and Paul could offer that. He would need the time as a backup to get stronger and improve his blocking in space, but he could become quality backup guard soon.