The Miami Dolphins were one of the teams that didn’t come out looking mighty impressive on the first day of the 2025 NFL Draft. With their needs on the offensive line clear as day, they instead added help on their other front. As a result, fans and media alike were firmly against the decision.
However, immediately on Day 2, the Dolphins show their method of madness. Trading up 11 picks in the second round, Miami came up big in their area of need and now walks out with a genuine difference-maker at the position of the roster’s biggest weakness.
Miami Dolphins Find Perfect Protection for Tua Tagovailoa
Perhaps the biggest concern as a Dolphins fan over the last few years has been the health of their franchise quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. With a relatively weak offensive line and a history of concussions, Tagovailoa’s future in the NFL appeared uncertain.
However, he was ready to return to the gridiron, putting the onus on the front office to find the right weapons and protection for him.
After electing not to add to their offensive line in the first round, Miami traded its own second-round selection (48) and a third (98), as well as a fourth-round pick (135) in exchange for the Las Vegas Raiders’ second-rounder (37) and a fifth-round pick (143)and fourth-round picks in exchange for the Raiders’ second-round pick (37) and fifth-round selection.
Trade:
Dolphins get:
🏈2025 2nd-round pick (No. 37)
🏈2025 5th-round pickRaiders get:
🏈2025 2nd-round pick (No. 48)
🏈2025 4th-round pickAnd at No. 37, Miami picks Arizona OL Jonah Saviinea.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025
At pick 37, Miami chose to add Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona to its offensive line. A sturdy, well-built offensive lineman with a powerful anchor, Savaiinaea does a good job of keeping his pads low and his weight underneath him.
For the team with the 27th-ranked offensive line on PFSN’s OL+ metric, that kind of help is necessary. Savaiinaea’s inside-outside versatility should help him, as he could realistically step in as a starter right away.
Right off the bat, he should be a plug-and-play starter who could be a good tackle or a great guard, and it’s just a matter of which of the two Miami chooses to prioritize at the start of the season.
Prior to the draft, it was clear that Savaiinaea had first-round potential. But with interior offensive linemen typically falling, even at the price, this might be a steal for the Dolphins after severe criticism for their first-round decision.
A Day 2 exclusive mock draft from PFSN had Savaiinaea as the second selection in Round 2 to the Houston Texans, where Ian Cummings was fully sold on him as an anchor for their offensive line.
“Jonah Savaiinaea presents exciting value to start as an explosive, physical interior blocker with the leverage and power to provide an upgrade.”
