The second edition of our Miami Dolphins 90-in-90 series today brings us a look at a 2025 rookie who is making a position change in 2026 with the hopes it lets him reach his full potential. Jonah Savaiinaea was selected with the 37th overall pick last year, with the Dolphins electing to start him at left guard throughout the season. A right guard in college, Savaiinaea never seemed comfortable with the move and his play suffered.
In 2026, Miami appears set to move him to his natural right guard position, putting him next to right tackle Austin Jackson, with the hope that he will live up to the potential that led to his selection in the second round.
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Name: Jonah Savaiinaea
Number: 72
Position: Guard
Height / Weight: 6’5” / 326 pounds
Age (at start of season): 22
Experience: 2nd year
College: Arizona
Draft: 2025 2nd Round (37th overall)
Acquired: 2025 NFL Draft
Contract: 4-years, $11.3 million
2026 salary cap: $2.6 million
Contract details via OverTheCap.com.
Games played: 17 (17 starts)
Savaiinaea struggled during his rookie season. Was it an issue with the speed of the game? Was it just never settling in as a left guard? Whatever the case, he ended the year ranked 81 out of 81 qualified guards in the season-long grades from Pro Football Focus. Whatever you think of PFF, their grade reflects the disappointing rookie season Savaiinaea had.
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The good news is, even with that disappointment, Savaiinae played all 983 offensive snaps, giving him a great base of experience heading into his second season.
Guard signings: Braedan Daniels
Released: Braeden Daniels, James Daniels, Liam Eichenberg, Kion Smith
Drafted: Kadyn Proctor (1st round), DJ Campbell (6th round)
Savaiinaea enters the summer as the team’s starting right guard, a position that he should hold on to throughout the summer. The Dolphins have retooled their offense under new head coach Jeff Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowick – who returns with the Dolphins after being the team’s passing game coordinator under former head coach Mike McDaniel in 2025. The biggest difference in the offense may be a move from finesse and timing to focusing on overpowering opposing defenses. Miami is expected to be a power, run-first team in 2026. Can Savaiinaea grow into a solid starter in that system?
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It is hard to say a player entering his second year is already in a make-or-break season, but that may be Savaiinae’s situation. The new coaching staff, front office, and offensive system could be what he needs to reach his potential, but if he does not show growth quickly, the new coaching staff and front office do not have any ties to his draft stock or reason to hold on to him beyond the season.
Savaiinaea’s role to start 2026 is fairly well locked in, but anything beyond that will have to be earned fairly quickly.
