Can Savaiinaea be a long-term solution at guard for the Giants?
The 2025 NFL Draft class is a curious one along the offensive line. There are quite a few highly regarded offensive tackle prospects, but relatively few interior linemen carrying high grades.
However, several of those highly-graded offensive tackles may project best inside at guard or center at the NFL level. Arizona tackle Jonah Savaiinaea is one of them.
He’s built like a guard at 6-foot 3¾ inches, 339 pounds, and while he struggled some at tackle at Senior Bowl practices, he was a standout when asked to move inside to guard. The New York Giants may be in search of a long-term answer at right guard, so could Savaiinaea be that answer?
Prospect: Jonah Savaiinaea (71)
Games Watched: vs. Washington (2023), vs. USC (2023), vs. Kansas State (2024), vs. Utah (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot 3¾ inches
Weight: 339 pounds
Arm length: 34⅝ inches
Hand size: 10¼ inches
Strengths
Best traits
- Size
- Play strength
- Arm length
- Foot quickness
- Competitive toughness
Savaiinaea is a big, powerful, and surprisingly nimble offensive line prospect with experience at multiple positions along Arizona’s offensive line. Most of his experience over the last three years has been at right tackle, however he’s also taken significant snaps at right guard and left tackle as well.
Savaiinaea sports a stocky, powerful build at 6-foot, 3 ¾ inches, 339 pounds with obvious power in his upper and lower halves. He also has long (34 ⅝ inch) arms which will help mitigate concerns regarding his length. His combination of long arms and a relative lack of height give him impressive natural leverage, which he further improves with good hip and pad level. Savaiinaea is a natural knee bender who does a good job of sinking his hips and maintaining his leverage throughout the rep.
That leverage allows him to maximize his impressive play strength, and he is tough for defenders to defeat once engaged. He’s able to anchor against power, generate movement as a run blocker, and rag-doll unprepared defenders.
His size and build also belies quick feet and good movement skills. He has a kick-slide that manages to be both choppy and fluid at the same time. He always keeps one foot in the ground while taking short steps which allow him to redirect to pick up late pressure or mirror more athletic rushers.
Finally, Savaiinaea plays with a definite nasty streak. He’s willing to block multiple defenders on a given play, looks for work, and looks to bury any defender that goes low to try and out-leverage him.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Length (height)
- Leverage consistency
- Long speed
Savaiinaea has enough versatility to play tackle and guard in college, but he might be forced to move inside at the NFL level.
He lacks the height teams normally like to see from their offensive tackles and he also has relatively limited athleticism when asked to move over any significant distance. Savaiinaea can lose the advantage afforded by his play strength if he allows his hips to rise, though that isn’t a frequent issue.
He can, however, be prone to letting his hands drift wide when playing tackle. Having to time his punch with his kick-slide against NFL speed could further exacerbate the issue with his hands.
Savaiinaea doesn’t “catch” defenders and still delivers a good punch, but he could be vulnerable to holding calls if his hands drift outside of defenders’ framework. That can also minimize the advantages offered by his long arms and make it more difficult for him to control defenders.
It’s possible that Savaiinaea is a victim of his own versatility. Arizona asked him to change positions multiple times throughout his college career – and even multiple times in the middle of games. He likely hasn’t had the chance to master his technique at any one position, which could extend his learning curve at the NFL slightly.
Game Tape
(Savaiinaea is the Arizona RT wearing number 71)
Projection
Savaiinaea projects as a starting offensive lineman at the NFL level.
If he plays on the outside, he would likely fit best in a down-hill blocking man-gap blocking scheme. That said, most teams could look at him as a high-ceiling guard with the movement skills to play in a diverse blocking scheme. That said, there will likely be teams that are willing to give him the chance to win an offensive tackle job, or at least pencil him in as tackle depth in case of emergency.
Savaiinaea would almost certainly benefit from the chance to play one position and develop without being moved around. If so, he has the potential to be a good starting offensive lineman in the NFL.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes, at guard
Final Word: A second-round value
