Jonah Savaiinaea is getting a reset in Miami, and it starts with a move back to familiar ground.
After a rookie season that didn’t live up to the expectations attached to a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Savaiinaea is set to shift from left guard to right guard under the Dolphins’ new coaching staff. That matters because the spot he’s moving back to is the one he played most often in college, while last year he was asked to handle left guard.
The hope is simple: put him where he’s more comfortable and see if that unlocks the player Miami expected when it drafted him.
There’s also a small but notable change that could fit into that fresh start. Savaiinaea will be wearing a new number in 2026, another sign that the Dolphins are treating year two as a clean slate.
The offensive line picture around him is changing, too. Rookie Kadyn Proctor is slated to slide into the left guard spot, giving Miami a new look on the interior as training camp approaches.
That line is shaping up to be one of the more interesting groups on the roster. It includes several high draft picks, plenty of continuity, and sheer size - the projected starting five checks in at more than 321 pounds on average.
Elsewhere on the roster, the Dolphins’ secondary may be pointing toward a defensive trend that could matter again in 2026. Miami was already one of the league’s top teams in one personnel trend in 2025, and under Jeff Hafley, that could become even more pronounced.
The team’s rookie class is also getting a closer look, with expectations being set for the players selected in rounds one through three.
And for those tracking the broader roster picture, there’s more to watch on the offensive line, the tight ends, and a few other names worth keeping in mind as camp nears.
In Other News...
Dolphins Fans May Finally Be Getting The Uniform Update They Crave
The latest jersey rollout around the NFL has only fueled the kind of uniform chatter Dolphins fans know well. Fanatics is selling stitched-style authentic jerseys for 30 teams, but Miami and New Orleans were left out, which has naturally led to speculation that both clubs may be headed toward something new down the line. For a fan base that has spent years debating the look, even a small omission can feel like a clue.
What makes the conversation more interesting is that any update does not necessarily have to mean a full throwback revival. The most realistic path could be a refresh built around the current identity, with changes to the color palette, striping, shading or font rather than a wholesale return to an old logo. No official announcement has been made, but the absence from this rollout has already given Dolphins supporters something to watch for, and maybe a reason to keep an eye on 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rebuild Is Drawing Brutal Reviews For One Troubling Reason
The Dolphins spent the offseason making a hard break from the roster that had defined their recent run, and the reaction around the league has been just as blunt as the moves themselves. After major changes at quarterback, in the secondary and along the defensive front, one Sporting News analyst handed Miami a D grade for the work, a verdict that reflects how much uncertainty now hangs over the teams direction.
What stands out most is how thin the margin for optimism looks right now, especially with questions still swirling around the quarterback spot and a receiver group that no longer carries the same punch. The defense has its own set of unknowns, and the overall picture is so shaky that some evaluators are already wondering whether Miami can avoid a full bottom-out in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Rodriguez May Be Forcing A Dolphins Decision Already
The Dolphins spent a second-round pick on Jacob Rodriguez even with Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson already in the linebacking room, a move that said plenty about how Miami views the Texas Tech product. Rodriguez arrived with a different kind of background too, having spent time at quarterback before becoming a linebacker, and that versatility has helped shape the way he sees the game as he settles into the NFL.
Rodriguez has also fit quickly into the building, praising the teams facilities and the overall care Miami provides while he and the rest of the rookie class grind through their early work ahead of training camp. The bigger question now is how soon his presence starts to affect the depth chart, because when a rookie linebacker is already drawing attention in practice, the veterans around him can feel the pressure even before the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]