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ARIZONA WILDCATS FOOTBALL

Arizona Wildcats OT Jonah Savaiinaea impresses at guard during Senior Bowl prep

Arizona Wildcats offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea is making his presence felt during Senior Bowl prep this week.

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Arizona Wildcats offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea is making his presence felt during Senior Bowl prep this week as he looks to boost his 2025 NFL Draft stock.

And it’s not just along the outside of the line.

Further showing off his versatility on Wednesday, Savaiinaea had a field day operating at right guard during Day 2 of Senior Bowl practice.

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“Is Savaiinaea a guard or a tackle? That’s what scouts wanted to figure out this week,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid wrote in a recap of Wednesday’s standout performances. “After playing primarily at tackle on Tuesday, he worked more at guard on Day 2, showing the power and anchor that he’s known for. I have the 6-foot-4, 339-pounder ranked as a guard because of those two traits. And based on what he has shown so far in Mobile, Savaiinaea is still likely to be a top-40 pick.”

It’s not the first time Jonah Savaiinaea’s impressed at guard

While Savaiinaea served primarily as a tackle in his final season at Arizona — playing both ends of the line — working inside isn’t foreign to the Wildcat.

In 2022, Savaiinaea registered 791 snaps at right guard, according to Pro Football Focus. The following year, he played mostly at right tackle (684) but still saw 139 at right guard. That was with 2024 Green Bay Packers first-round pick Jordan Morgan already installed at Arizona’s left tackle spot.

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There’s nothing wrong with some versatility, especially when you’re looking to put your best foot forward for 32 prospective landing spots come April.

One of the teams that could have Savaiinaea on their radar is the Arizona Cardinals.

Given the free agent statuses of guards Will Hernandez and Evan Brown — in addition to the former’s rehab from a season-ending knee injury — Savaiinaea could give the Cardinals another option alongside second-year pro Isaiah Adams, who flashed as a starter toward the backend of the season.

Savaiinaea’s potential impact along Arizona’s line wouldn’t stop at guard, either. With Kelvin Beachum currently a free agent and Jonah Williams coming off an injury-riddled year, there’s a spot up for grabs opposite franchise cornerstone and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr.

The Wildcat wouldn’t likely break the bank from a draft-pick standpoint, either, with Savaiinaea outside of NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s first edition of his top 50 prospects ahead of the draft.

Tyler Drake Cardinals reporter and ArizonaSports.com editor

Born and raised in Kelseyville, California, I spent most of my summers growing up in Arizona. There were a lot of trips to Globe and the East Valley. Once out of high school, I attended the University of Arizona with a major in natural resources… Read more

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