Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea was among the highest-rated players during the team's preseason opener.
The Miami Dolphins took on the Washington Commanders in their first preseason game of the 2026 season. Despite the lopsided 20-7 loss, there were a lot of positives that head coach Jeff Hafley called out.
During media availability, Hafley went into the deeply physical nature that he saw from the team and shouted out offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea. The right guard also landed one of the top grades of the entire team.
Savaiinaea was praised plenty during OTAs, minicamp, and training camp, but the matchup against the Commanders was the first time that he played in a live-game setting after switching to the right side of the line.
During the 2025 season, Savaiinaea was one of the worst-rated guards in the NFL, which is something that Hafley spoke about not mattering earlier in the offseason.
The change to the right side is clearly working out better for Savaiinea, as he was given an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 72.4. This was good for the fifth-best overall grade on the team.
During the game, Savaiinaea was seen moving the pile and using his leverage to open run lanes for De'Von Achane, leading to a team second-best 70.1 run block grade.
During media availability, Hafley spoke about the guard and gushed over what he saw from the second-year lineman.
"I got to give it up for Jonah. I thought Jonah took a step. He was physical. And I showed some clips in front of the entire team this morning of him just coming off the ball and driving people back of him knocking guys on the ground," Hafley said.
Hafley also praised fellow lineman Kadyn Proctor, stating that there were plays where the oversized guard had helped "cave in" the left side of the line.
Miami needs a physical line if the team is to truly lean on the run game. Despite not playing against Commanders starters, that is exactly what happened.
Achane rifled off seven carries for 39 yards and one touchdown. The Pro Bowl back does have the ability to shoot the gap and get loose if there is any sort of distance provided, but a reason for his ability to do just that has to do with the line.
Left tackle Patrick Paul and center Aaron Brewer were also some of the top-rated players on the team, and it was showcased by their ability to protect quarterback Malik Willis and move the defensive line to allow Achane to get yards.
Hafley stated that the physicality he saw from the line and the rest of the team is "getting closer to what he wants," but he now needs to see it continually happen.
Savaiinaea wasn't the only highly-rated player on the Dolphins tea,
Backup guard and new addition Caedan Wallace earned the top grade of 87.5. His 91.0 run block grade was the highest among all the linemen.
Achane earned an 81.2 overall rushing grade.
Willis earned an ovreall 79.6 grade, along with a 90.6 passing grade.
Caleb Douglas earned an overall 77.6 pass catching grade.
Despite it only being the Dolphins first game of the preseason, the team impressed Hafley in a major way.
