Miami Dolphins rookie offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea provided clarity on his projected position Friday.
The No. 37 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Savaiinaea indicated that he expects to play next to left tackle Patrick Paul for the foreseeable future. That development suggests Savaiinaea is currently penciled in at left guard, which would allow veteran free-agent guard James Daniels to play on the right side next to tackle Austin Jackson.
“Having Pat [Paul] here all summer, we got to build that chemistry, especially playing next to him,” Savaiinaea said. “Just building chemistry, not only on the field but off the field, you know, just being able to trust each other.”
In a perfect scenario, Savaiinaea and Paul could hold down the left side for years to come, while Daniels remains at his strongest position on the right side. Daniels and Jackson will be tasked with protecting lefty quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side, while Savaiinaea and Paul could form a dynamic duo of their own.
As a full five-man unit, the Dolphins could see a significant improvement from previous seasons. Although the loss of Terron Armstead to retirement is notable, the Dolphins hope the 2025 offensive line will perform better as a cohesive group than in recent years.
On Friday, Savaiinaea also spoke about a friendly competition with 2025 first-round pick Kenneth Grant, battling to see who’s first in and last out of the facility each day during camp. When asked who may have the upper hand so far, Savaiinaea confidently said with a smile, “Well, if it’s a competition, I mean, KG’s not even close to me.”
Additionally, Savaiinaea referred to Tagovailoa as “big bro” and mentioned their shared love of music. Whether the Dolphins offense finds harmony on the field this season remains to be seen. But if the linemen can stay in sync, there could be a successful symphony in the making in South Florida, led by perhaps the most important position room in the band.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins rookie OL Jonah Savaiinaea hints he’ll play left guard in 2025
Reporting by Jason Sarney, Dolphins Wire / Dolphins Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
