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.
Offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea #71 of the Arizona Wildcats during the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. The Buffalos defeated the Wildcats 34-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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.
Jonah Savaiinaea looks pretty damn good at guard pic.twitter.com/KXAUEvanUg
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) January 29, 2025
“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.
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.
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Comments
3 Comments
I think AZ go out and signs an elite OG like 6”6-325 Will Fries and they bring OG/C Evan Brown back giving him a slight raise at likely $2.0-$2.5/YR signing for 2YRs as depth and insurance to battle 2nd yr mauler 6”5-325 Isaiah Adams who with his elite power/anchor n violent hands (after improving dramatically down the stretch over his last 4 starts grading highly ) will really take off this season similar to PJJ last season as a top 10-12 OG w/ a PFF grade around 80 in YR2 I think. Option #2 is they sign no one except top 10-15 OG (top 10 pass protector) 6”3-325 OG Will Hernandez letting him battle young mauling big man 6”5-325 OG Isaiah Adams to start at LG at worst being high quality depth which is always needed and then start the massive young mauling RG 6”4-335lb OG Jonah Savaiinaea at RG Adams/WH at LG with a premier top notch OT duo in elite LT PJJ who should put together an all pro caliber season in YR and excellent top 7-8 RT Jonah Williams just needs to stay healthy n I think 2nd yr 6”6-325 RT/G Christian Jones has the talent to be an excellent starting RT given the talent n elite power/length he possess run blocking. That’s the ideal configuration n scenario for next season which would give AZ one of the top OL in the NFL.
Along with the 6th/64 highest graded borderline elite Center in football mauling big man 6”5-310 Hjalte Froholdt those moves would greatly improve the depth of the line.
In that case move like drafting a massive run blocking BEAST like 6”4.5/335lb RT/G Jonah Savaiinaea in rd2 would be a tremendous addition upgrading both depth n quality up front perfect skill set for this scheme. He can play RT in a pinch or maybe down the line but for now it makes MUCH more sense to keep your top 10 OT duo in PJJ n J. Williams and at LG let mauling 6”5-325 OG Isaiah Adams battle Will Hernandez at LG, elite top 10 Center H. Froholdt n adding another elite powerhouse 6”4-335 RG Jonah Savaiinaea in rd2.
This setup would be more than worth it while improving depth and giving AZ (who’s OL ranked 8th overall in 24, 4th in pass pro n #1 in YPC 5.56) and elite OL that by mid season will be one of the best OLs in the NFL as a top 5-6 Ranked OL.
And I wouldn’t mind AZ drafting this dude playing him at RG where he should be an absolute monster ,BInstead of drafting a RT finish the interior w/ elite color scheme setup n 40in morning 💩….
Instead AZ should roll w/ Williams who’s a top 10 healthy RT prolly top 6/8 YR conservatively n Elite young top 5 LT PJJ is only getting better n better.that said I think they have the future starting RT on the roster in 6”6-325 Christisn Jones who has the talent to become n develop into that apartment of his. Jones is a people mover with elite power n strength but also very good in pass protection n agile for a big man, posting a 77.1 pass pro grade as a rookie.
You draft a mauler out of AZ UofA to pair with a LG Isaiah Adams easy to start and /T PJJ and on the right side Big 6”5! RT Jonah Williams and absolute BEASTB RG Savaiinaea back in the fold with the 6th ranked overall center to.
That said AZ had the best most lean shape I’ve ever been in back in 2018 n I’d bet he easily has a top 6-8 OL and Grammy for best daytime comedy.
Give him a look, MO. Give 'em all a look. James Cameron couldn't even make it to the bottom of our empty OL depth.