Savaiinaea Hints At Playing Left Guard?

Savaiinaea in his minicamp interview pretty much said he’s playing Left Guard

All of the Miami Dolphins’ draft picks spoke after Day 1 of rookie minicamp, sharing interesting tidbits—but Jonah Savaiinaea might’ve dropped the biggest one. In his interview, Savaiinaea revealed he’s currently focused on adjusting to the left side of the offensive line, specifically launching from his right foot—something he’s not used to. That strongly suggests he’s being lined up to start at Left Guard in 2025.

And that’s intriguing for a few reasons.

Paul and Savaiinaea: A Potential Tandem?

If Savaiinaea is indeed playing at Left Guard, it means the Dolphins are planning to pair him with left tackle Patrick Paul—putting two young, powerful linemen side by side. There are really two plausible configurations for the interior O-line, depending on how they decide to align Savaiinaea and fellow new addition James Daniels.

At first, it seemed likely Savaiinaea would play Right Guard, his more natural side. That setup would allow him to work between veterans Austin Jackson and Aaron Brewer, while Daniels could play alongside the second-year Paul on the left. This would ensure that both young players had veteran help nearby—always a smart approach.

But it seems the Dolphins are favoring Option Two: putting both Paul and Savaiinaea together on the left. That carries both risks and rewards.

Echoes of Webb & Sims?

It’s hard not to draw comparisons to the legendary Richmond Webb and Keith Sims, who were drafted together and became the foundation of Miami’s O-line for nearly a decade. Nobody’s crowning Paul and Savaiinaea just yet—but maybe, just maybe, the Dolphins are hoping for a similar long-term pairing.

Savaiinaea and Paul are arguably the two most powerful linemen on the roster. Daniels is solid in the run game, but he’s coming off an Achilles injury and may not be 100% until late in the season or even 2026. That could be why the coaching staff is leaning into a physical, run-heavy left side, especially if they add newly signed tight end Pharoah Brown to the mix. Suddenly, you’ve got a left side with real drive-blocking muscle.

Growing Pains Ahead?

Yes, there will be a learning curve. Both Paul and Savaiinaea are young and raw. But it’s possible the Dolphins staff is thinking long-term here: grow them together now, reap the benefits for years.

Will Paul and Savaiinaea become the new tandem on the line? I don’t know for sure—but with the best pay-per-head service, I’m dying to find out. Training camp can’t come soon enough.

Go Phins!