The Miami Dolphins are looking to their younger players to deliver strong performances as they prepare for the 2026 NFL season. Among those players is Jonah Savaiinaea, a second-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, who has been placed on notice ahead of the team's first game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Savaiinaea, who struggled during his rookie season, has been a topic of discussion among analysts. Miami Herald's Omar Kelly highlighted that Savaiinaea was one of the lowest-rated offensive guards in the league last year, with a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 28.4, the worst among qualified guards in two decades.
He allowed eight sacks and 45 pressures while also earning a poor run-blocking grade of 37.3.
In an effort to improve, the Dolphins' new coaching staff has moved Savaiinaea from left to right guard, a position he played in college at Arizona. While this change has shown some promise, his long-term position as a starter remains uncertain. With limited competition behind him, including rookie DJ Campbell, Savaiinaea's performance will be closely monitored as the season progresses.
The Dolphins had hoped to bolster their offensive line by signing free agent Jamaree Salyer, but he suffered a season-ending injury during training camp and was subsequently released. Despite these challenges, the Dolphins have a potentially strong offensive line, featuring All-Pro center Aaron Brewer and first-round rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor.
