Miami Dolphins says rookie guard Jonah Savaiianea 'made of the right stuff'
It's a savvy move.
"He's got a voice and he can play every instrument," Savaiinaea said of Tua after the Dolphins' third training camp practice.
The Dolphins traded up in the second round of the last NFL draft to select Savaiinaea, a large and powerful man with good feet. It's just a bonus that Savaiinaea also plays the piano and guitar.
What coach Mike McDaniel likes most about Savaiinaea already is his commitment to getting it right.
"You can tell the veterans believe in him," McDaniel said. "And so he's doing a great job, fired up, because you have to earn that in a real way, veteran trust."
Miami Dolphins believe in rookie Jonah Savaiinaea
Savaiinaea seems mature for a 21-year-old.
"I take that to heart because I come in with, I hold myself to a higher standard every time I touch this facility," Savaiinaea said. "You've got guys here that want to win. I'm here playing for something bigger than myself. Not only myself and my family, but also for the guys next to me."
Fellow rookie Kenneth Grant said he and Savaiinaea have a quiet competition to see who is first in the building and who leaves last.
"If it's a competition, I mean, KG's not even close to me," Jonah said with a smile.
Added McDaniel on Savaiinaea: "When veterans can see that he's made of the right stuff, that's the best news I could get."
Miami Dolphins training camp: rookie Jonah Savaiinaea impresses
Savaiinaea shared that he skipped a 2025 summer vacation and opted to stay and train in South Florida.
At times in the past, he has played at a weight around 330 pounds, but he plans to operate in Miami's zone read offense at around 320 pounds.
He has demonstrated power in practice. But he can move.
The new guard duo of Savaiinaea and James Daniels should be a big improvement for Miami this season.
Veteran tackle Austin Jackson has been encouraged.
"We're young in the interior and really athletic as well, so you can expect a lot of speed, strength," Jackson said. "I think we have the stamina to be fast the whole game, the entire game."
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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins veterans 'believe in' rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea
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