Dolphins’ Jonah Savaiinaea could benefit from move back to position of comfort, right guard

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May 27, 2026 - 20:16

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Dolphins’ Jonah Savaiinaea could benefit from move back to position of comfort, right guard

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins’ decision to start the combination of Patrick Paul and Kadyn Proctor on the left side of the offensive line this offseason could provide an added benefit for Jonah Savaiinaea on the right side.

Most of Savaiinaea’s college playing experience at Arizona was either at right guard or right tackle. But as the previous Dolphins regime of general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel traded up to acquire him in the second round of the 2025 draft, he played left guard as a rookie last season.

New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan’s first draft pick in his tenure was Proctor, with the idea the Dolphins were initially inserting him at left guard, moving Savaiinaea, who struggled at left guard as a rookie, back over to right guard.

“It’s always good to move back to your original spot,” Savaiinaea said Wednesday after Miami’s second session of voluntary organized team activities open to media. “I’ve always been kicking off that left leg, but I feel good being back on the right side. But at the end of the day, I’m more happy that we’re back out here working and excited to kick off Year 2.”

Savaiinaea, who was graded by Pro Football Focus lowest among eligible NFL guards in 2025, acknowledged it was a challenge playing left guard his rookie season.

“It was a little bit, because I’ve never really focused on playing left side until I got here, obviously,” he said, “but that wasn’t a reason why or an excuse in my play. Wherever I am on the line, is to contribute to this team.”

The shift in position on the line could be one reason why Savaiinaea could improve in his second season, but not the only one.

“He seems more comfortable there, talking to (offensive line coaches) Zach (Yenser) and Matt (Applebaum). They seem to believe he’s more comfortable there,” said Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley. “But it’s also Year 2 for him, so he’s going to be more comfortable, period, whether he played on the left side or whether he played on the right side. He’s got more cumulative reps and muscle memory on the one side.

“Is it a mental thing? Is it a physical thing? If you ask Jonah, he feels good on the right side.”

That comfort with having a year of NFL football under his belt can have Savaiinaea playing with more conviction.

“Don’t second-guess yourself,” he said. “Don’t second-guess good decisions on the field. So, my mentality is that for this year. When we break out of the huddle, go.”

It also helps that Savaiinaea now has a full offseason with the Dolphins. He has been around for the transition from Grier and McDaniel to Sullivan and Hafley. Instead of preparing for last year’s NFL scouting combine and pro day ahead of the draft, he’s been focused on football through the months since last season ended in January.

“To be able to take a break after the first season, that January to March, it was so relieving to take those months off,” Savaiinaea said, “but when it came to the cost of the OTAs, camp, obviously, I had some ramping back up, but I feel more confident going into this year, having last year under my belt. So, I feel great going into this year.”

As Hafley promoted Bobby Slowik to the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator role, much of Miami’s offense remains the same, including the blocking concepts in the outside-zone run-blocking scheme. Savaiinaea’s position coach, though, is now Yenser after being under the instruction of Butch Barry as a rookie.

“There’s really nothing big of a change from last year,” Savaiinaea said. “It’s just terminology, how everyone has different wordings to their coaching, but everything’s pretty much the same. Yenser is bringing that mentality of that dog is always in the room. So, he’s always pushing us to create that second line of scrimmage and come off the ball, playing with violence and speed. So, that didn’t change this year.”

It’s unknown if the long-term plan with Proctor is to keep him at left guard, but starting off, it’s important to the new staff to keep him on the left side while not moving Paul off the left tackle position where he found success in 2025. That decision comes even as right tackle Austin Jackson isn’t ready to practice yet due to his offseason foot surgery.

“When we’re just talking about schematically, learning the playbook, we believe that’s (Proctor’s) best bet, not to overload him to try to learn too much,” Hafley said. “And then, when it comes down to actually having to play it, you’re not ready to play anything.”

The new Dolphins staff could be on to a combination of keeping Proctor comfortable as a rookie on the left side while resetting Savaiinaea to the position where he has found his comfort. Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane walks onto the field for OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. catches a pass during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley talks to stretching players during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis throws during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler stretches during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, second from left, is seen on the field during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, and running back Ollie Gordon III walk on the field during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins safety Dante Trader Jr. stretches during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Rene Konga stretches during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins safety Dante Trader Jr. stretches during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley speaks to the media during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley speaks to the media during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley speaks to the media during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley speaks to the media during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 15Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley walks through stretching players during OTAs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Baptist Health Training Center in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Expand