Dolphins Notes: Rodriguez, Johnson, Savaiinaea, Free Agency
The rebuilding Dolphins entered the draft with a roster in serious need of upgrades all over the field. After making a league-high 13 picks, they emerged from the proceedings with at least a few players who could start right away. That includes second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who is “likely” to compete with Tyrel Dodson for a starting job, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald.
Rodriguez, whom the Dolphins chose 43rd overall, came off the board early after a stellar couple of years at Texas Tech. The 6-foot-1, 231-pounder had a breakout 2024 in which he racked up 127 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles in 14 games. He was even more productive last season, during which he recorded 128 tackles, a whopping seven forced fumbles and four interceptions. Rodriguez earned major accolades as a result. Along with finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, he was a unanimous All-American who won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation’s best defender) and the Butkus Award (nation’s top LB), among other honors.
Already set to turn 24 on Sept. 2, it would not be a surprise if Rodriguez immediately steps in next to Jordyn Brooks to comprise the Dolphins’ top linebacker duo. That would mean a contract-year demotion for Dodson, who had his best statistical showing in 2025. Playing 84.97% of the Dolphins’ defensive snaps, the six-year veteran logged career highs in starts (16), tackles (129), TFL (10) and sacks (five). Although his traditional numbers were solid, Pro Football Focus was not enamored of Dodson’s performance. PFF ranked Dodson 61st among 88 off-ball LBs.
Shifting to Miami’s secondary, first-round cornerback Chris Johnson looks like a lock to earn significant playing time from the get-go under rookie head coach Jeff Hafley. The Dolphins traded up from 30 to 27 to draft the former San Diego State standout, who primarily lined up on the outside during his four college seasons. Johnson could be in for a role change in Miami, which is likely to deploy the 6-foot, 195-pounder as its nickel corner, according to Kelly. It is unclear who will start on the outside, but Storm Duck, JuJu Brents and free agent pickups Darrell Baker Jr. and Marco Wilson are among the Dolphins’ experienced options. Duck and Brents did not factor in much during injury-ruined years in 2025. Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas ended up leading Miami’s corners in snaps by a wide margin, but both players are now out of the organization.
Turning to the offensive side of the ball, the Dolphins are planning an open competition at both guard spots, Kelly reports. Rookie Kadyn Proctor, the Dolphins’ first pick (12th overall), is expected to win the left guard battle. There are still questions on the right side, where the Dolphins lost Cole Strange to the Chargers in free agency.
As a second-round rookie last year, left guard Jonah Savaiinaea was the only Dolphins lineman to take the field for every offensive snap. However, PFF rated his play dead last among 79 qualifiers. His pass-blocking grade (14.1) was easily the worst at his position. The Dolphins do not want a repeat of that, especially after they brought in new starting quarterback Malik Willis on a three-year, $67.5MM deal in free agency. Savaiiinea will need to show obvious improvement this summer to claim the No. 1 right guard spot.
With the draft in the books, it appears the Dolphins’ offseason roster building is all but done. The team stayed in contact with some “top” available free agents before the draft, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, but first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said afterward he is not anticipating any “big-ticket” signings (via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN). The Dolphins are currently last in the league in cap space (approximately $1.8MM), but designating Bradley Chubb a post-June 1 release will add over $20MM to the total next month.
Kadyn Proctor’s Dolphins Career To Begin At Guard
In 2016, the Dolphins benefited from Laremy Tunsil‘s slide to No. 13 overall. Although Miami eventually stationed the high-level prospect at his natural left tackle position, Year 1 featured Tunsil at guard while Branden Albert remained on Ryan Tannehill‘s blind side. Kadyn Proctor‘s NFL journey may begin similarly.
The Dolphins intend to use the Alabama left tackle — this year’s No. 12 overall pick — at guard to open his career, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said during an appearance on the Joe Rose Show (h/t ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques). Specifically, the new Miami GM said left guard will be where Proctor begins his NFL run.
While the Dolphins intend to cross-train the college left tackle at both guard and tackle, the team will have him learn LG while 2025 LG Jonah Savaiinaea moves to RG. All 982 of Savaiinaea’s rookie-year snaps came at left guard. Rather than ensure continuity there and have Proctor try right guard to begin his career, a new Dolphins regime will relocate Chris Grier‘s final second-round pick.
Proctor’s draft stock was partially boosted by his left tackle ability, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, as the two tackles drafted before him — Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa — were primarily RTs in college. Ditto Lions first-rounder Blake Miller. Proctor played left tackle for three seasons at Alabama, earning first-team All-SEC and second-team All-America honors last season. Our Ely Allen noted in PFR’s mock draft that many teams would be interested in seeing how Proctor looks at guard, and the Dolphins will kick the tires here.
Proctor checked in at 6-foot-6 and 352 pounds at the Combine. He will become one of the NFL’s biggest guards. Sullivan said (via Louis-Jacques) following the Proctor pick — which came after a one-spot trade-down move via Dallas — he could potentially play four positions along the O-line (all but center). Featuring needs at many positions entering the draft, the Dolphins made Proctor their first pick — over the likes of Rueben Bain Jr. and Makai Lemon — of the Sullivan era. The team also traded out of No. 11, giving the Cowboys Caleb Downs access. Passing on Bain and Downs certainly provide expectations for Proctor, whose path to a left tackle job may not materialize as Tunsil’s did nearly 10 years ago.
The Dolphins moved Tunsil to LT in 2017 upon trading Albert to the Jaguars. The Sullivan-Jeff Hafley regime, however, has Patrick Paul going into his second season as the left tackle starter. Austin Jackson is in place at RT, though injuries have regularly impacted the O-line nomad in Miami. Jackson has settled at RT, receiving a three-year extension worth $36MM in late 2023, but he did play guard previously with the Dolphins.
Paul replaced a retired Terron Armstead at LT last year, doing so as Jackson missed 11 games (after missing nine in 2024). Jackson missed 15 games in 2022, with his healthy 2023 leading to the extension. Miami gave Jackson a pay cut this offseason, potentially opening the door for Proctor at RT (the team also lost swing tackle Larry Borom in free agency). Jackson’s deal expires at season’s end. More clarity will come on Proctor’s positional future by then, but for now, a Tunsil-like path at LG to open his career is in the cards.
Miami drafted another guard — Texas’ D.J. Campbell — in Round 6. The team is planning to try the former Longhorns blocker at center in addition to guard, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes. The team also added ex-Charger swingman Jamaree Salyer in free agency, providing another potential answer at tackle or guard.
Dolphins Sign Second-Round OL Jonah Savaiinaea To Fully Guaranteed Rookie Deal
The Dolphins have agreed to terms on a 100% fully guaranteed rookie contract with second-round offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The deal makes Savaiinaea the first No. 37 pick and the fifth second-round pick to receive a fully guaranteed contract in league history. He received significant increases over the guarantees of 2024 No. 37 pick Ja’Lynn Polk, who had 30% of his Year 4 salary and 84.7% of his total deal guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Savaiinaea received 15.3% more guaranteed money overall with a massive 70% increase in Year 4 guaranteed salary.
Savaiinaea did not report with the rest of the Miami’s rookie class on July 15 as one of several second-round picks holding out for fully guarantee rookie contracts after the Texans set new precedent with No. 34 pick Jayden Higgins. No. 35 pick Nick Emmanwori signed a fully guaranteed deal with the Seahawks on Thursday, giving Savaiinaea leverage to demand similar terms. Savaiinaea is also projected to replace Liam Eichenberg as the Dolphins’ starting right guard after they traded up for him in April’s draft, so it was important to get him on the field to build chemistry with his new teammates.
By giving in to Savaiinaea’s demands, the Dolphins will continue the domino effect of second-round pick signings. No. 39 pick Luther Burden signed a fully guaranteed contract with the Bears shortly after Savaiinaea put pen to paper, which should lock No. 38 pick TreVeyon Henderson into a similar deal with the Patriots. Saints rookie quarterback and No. 40 pick Tyler Shough should also be able to secure the fully guaranteed deal that he has been pursuing.
Normally, Savaiinaea’s signing would also ensure that the pick before him gets a fully guaranteed deal. However, No. 36 pick Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned as he faces a charge of misdemeanor battery after a domestic incident in Florida. The Browns are in no rush to sign him to his rookie deal, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, as the team wants their second-round pick’s focus to remain on his legal issues.
Savaiinaea’s signing completes the Dolphins’ eight-man draft class before training camp kicks off next week.
- Round 1, No. 13: Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 37 (from Raiders): Jonah Savaiinaea (G, Arizona) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 143 (from Raiders): Jordan Phillips (DT, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 5: No. 150: Jason Marshall (CB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 155 (from Broncos): Dante Trader (S, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 179 (from Browns through Texans): Ollie Gordon (RB, Oklahoma State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 231: Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 253*: Zeek Biggers (DT, Georgia Tech) (signed)
33 Unsigned 2025 Draft Picks Remain
The NFL has hit a logjam and is collectively lagging far behind where it normally is at this point in the offseason. Two years ago, the league hit its last 30 unsigned players before July. Last year, teams were signing rookies as quickly as they were drafting them, and only 10 players remained unsigned by June 17. A couple intriguing situations have caused pens to go quiet in 2025, and as a result, here are the 33 remaining unsigned rookies of the 2025 NFL Draft:
Round 1:
- No. 17 (Bengals): Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
- No. 20 (Broncos): Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
Round 2:
- No. 35 (Seahawks): Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
- No. 36 (Browns): Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State)
- No. 37 (Dolphins): Jonah Savaiinaea (G, Arizona)
- No. 38 (Patriots): TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
- No. 39 (Bears): Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
- No. 40 (Saints): Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville)
- No. 41 (Bills): T.J. Sanders (DT, South Carolina)
- No. 42 (Jets): Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
- No. 43 (49ers): Alfred Collins (DT, Texas)
- No. 44 (Cowboys): Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE, Boston College)
- No. 45 (Colts): JT Tuimoloau (DE, Ohio State)
- No. 46 (Rams): Terrance Ferguson (TE, Oregon)
- No. 47 (Cardinals): Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
- No. 48 (Texans): Aireontae Ersery (T, Minnesota)
- No. 49 (Bengals): Demetrius Knight (LB, South Carolina)
- No. 50 (Seahawks): Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
- No. 51 (Panthers): Nic Scourton (OLB, Texas A&M)
- No. 52 (Titans): Oluwafemi Oladejo (OLB, UCLA)
- No. 53 (Buccaneers): Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)
- No. 54 (Packers): Anthony Belton, T (NC State)
- No. 55 (Chargers): Tre Harris (WR, Ole Miss)
- No. 56 (Bears): Ozzy Trapilo (T, Boston College)
- No. 57 (Lions): Tate Ratledge (G, Georgia)
- No. 58 (Raiders): Jack Bech (WR, TCU)
- No. 59 (Ravens): Mike Green (OLB, Marshall)
- No. 60 (Broncos): RJ Harvey (RB, Central Florida)
- No. 61 (Commanders): Trey Amos (CB, Ole Miss)
- No. 62 (Bears): Shemar Turner (DT, Texas A&M)
- No. 63 (Chiefs): Omarr Norman-Lott (DT, Tennessee)
- No. 64 (Eagles): Andrew Mukuba (S, Texas)
Round 4:
- No. 107 (Jaguars): Jack Kiser (LB, Notre Dame)
In recent years, a trend has seen second-rounders lasting the longest, but what we’re seeing this year is unheard of. As rookies have been getting a bit of flexibility in negotiating structures of guarantees, getting deals done has become a waiting game of seeing what surrounding picks are getting for comparison. Last year, teams breezed through the issue, but 2025 has seen significantly increased troubles.
Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins set the tone by signing a fully guaranteed rookie contract, the first ever for a second-round selection. The next day, the Browns were essentially forced to do the same for Carson Schwesinger, picked one slot before Higgins. Shough, the Saints rookie quarterback, is seeking the same deal, hoping that his elevated status as a passer will help convince New Orleans to continue making history. Shough’s efforts have caused every pick between him and Higgins to stand pat, waiting to see if they get to ask for full guarantees from their teams, as well. This would be a drastic development, as last year’s 40th overall pick, Cooper DeJean, received only two fully guaranteed years with only partial guarantees in Year 3.
The biggest story outside of the second round is that of the standoff between Stewart and the Bengals. Stewart has issues with what he perceives as a lack of protection in Cincinnati’s offer that causes a contract default in any year to void any guarantees in all the following years. It’s a new precedent the team is trying to set, and Stewart seems intent on preventing them from doing so.
It will be interesting to see which standoff gets settled first: Stewart’s or Shough’s. The latter standoff ending would likely set off a domino reaction of second-round deals that would help a large number of teams close out their rookie classes. To this point, only four NFL teams have done so.
OL Notes: Conerly, Commanders, Dolphins, Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Giants, Rams
As OTAs near, teams will begin evaluations regarding roles for rookie offensive linemen — and potential veteran relocations stemming from draft decisions. A couple of changes figure to come out of the Commanders‘ Josh Conerly Jr. draft choice. The Browns and Texans attempted to trade up for Conerly, but the Commanders ended up with the two-year Oregon left tackle starter at No. 29. Washington GM Adam Peters said (via ESPN.com’s John Keim) Conerly could play tackle or guard as a rookie.
Washington, which let Cornelius Lucas walk in free agency (to Cleveland), had already planned to move primary 2024 LT Brandon Coleman to RT before the draft. Two-year RT starter Andrew Wylie accepted a pay cut this offseason, and his past as a guard could become relevant again. Wylie has only played RT over the past four seasons, but the ex-Chief worked almost exclusively at guard from 2018-20. Wylie and potentially Coleman could be in the guard mix if Conerly stays at tackle opposite new LT Laremy Tunsil. The Commanders have ex-Chief Nick Allegretti at LG and a rehabbing Sam Cosmi at RG; the latter’s spot obviously will not be in jeopardy once he recovers from his January ACL tear, but he will not be a lock to avoid the PUP list to open the season.
Here is the latest from O-lines around the league:
- The Dolphins are slotting second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea at guard, per GM Chris Grier, who expects (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) the No. 37 overall pick to start from Day 1. Miami traded up for the Arizona product, outflanking the Patriots, who were (via the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard) believed to be eyeing him at No. 38. Savaiinaea will likely be set to displace Liam Eichenberg, who played all five O-line spots during his Dolphins rookie deal. Eichenberg, a 2021 second-round pick who re-signed on a one-year deal worth $2.23MM, is now set to operate as a swingman behind new starters Savaiinaea and James Daniels.
- Bears second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo served as Boston College’s RT starter in 2023 and ’24. Chicago choosing Trapilo at No. 56 points to him being eyed as a 2026 starter, as LT starter Braxton Jones is in a contract year. Ryan Poles said during a Kap & J-Hood ESPN 1000 interview (h/t ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin) the Bears will begin Trapilo at LT this offseason, as the team is sufficiently confident Trapilo in Trapilo’s RT seasoning. That opens the door to starter work while Jones recovers from ankle surgery; Chicago’s three-year LT is expected to miss training camp time.
- Seattle will use its first-round pick, Grey Zabel, at guard, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar notes. As our Ely Allen noted in his mock draft, the North Dakota State product played across the O-line with the Bison. Zabel saw time at both guard spots and each tackle position in college, and a center NFL future came up as well. The Seahawks, who did not allocate much in the way of resources to guard following Damien Lewis‘ 2024 exit, are set to place Zabel at LG, per Hall of Fame ex-Seahawk guard Steve Hutchinson (h/t ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson). Zabel would replace Laken Tomlinson at LG, while Henderson adds primary 2024 RG starter Anthony Bradford competes with 2024 third-rounder Christian Haynes, Sataoa Laumea and rookie sixth-rounder Bryce Cabeldue at the other guard post.
- As Evan Neal transitions to guard, a player viewed as a potential Giants guard starter — fifth-round rookie Marcus Mbow — will begin his career at tackle, Brian Daboll said (via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz). Mbow was a full-time guard starter at Purdue in 2022, while he finished his career as the Boilermakers’ starting right tackle. Mbow will begin his career behind Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor. The latter being in a contract year opens the door for an early-career move into the starting lineup, should Mbow prove ready.
- Rob Havenstein joins Jones in recovering from surgery, confirming (via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue) he underwent cleanup procedures on both shoulders. Havenstein, 33 next week, will miss some offseason time but is not expected to be sidelined to start training camp. Missing six games last season, Havenstein is going into his 11th year as the Rams‘ RT starter.
Dolphins Acquire No. 37 From Raiders
The Dolphins are jumping up to No. 37, acquiring the pick from the Raiders. Miami will send Las Vegas Nos. 48, 98 and 135 for Nos. 37 and 143, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
Jonah Savaiinaea is heading to South Beach with the newly acquired pick. The Arizona O-lineman will help a Dolphins team that was linked to blockers in Round 1. Miami, however, went with Michigan DT Kenneth Grant. But it is circling back to an interior O-line need.
Losing Robert Hunt in free agency last year, the Dolphins are attacking their guard need this offseason by adding James Daniels (after his three-year Steelers stint) and now bringing in a second-round reinforcement. Savaiinaea profiles as a guard for the Dolphins, who had lost 2024 starter Robert Jones to the Cowboys in free agency. While Miami re-signed Liam Eichenberg, the former second-rounder profiles as more stopgap at this point. He is on a one-year deal.
A three-year Arizona starter, Savaiinaea only earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors last season — as the conference expanded significantly — and honorable mention All-Pac-12 acclaim in 2023. But he ranked highly during the pre-draft process. The powerful blocker checked in at 324 pounds and rated as the fourth-ranked guard in this class, per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Savaiinaea also saw extensive time at right tackle with the Wildcats, teaming with 2024 Packers first-rounder Jordan Morgan.
Miami has Austin Jackson signed for two more years at right tackle, and the former first-rounder has strung together two mostly healthy seasons. Savaiinaea, however, should have a clear path to start opposite Daniels at Miami’s other guard spot, as Aaron Brewer remains in place at center on a line that will feature 2024 second-rounder Patrick Paul stepping in for Terron Armstead at LT.
Draft Rumors: Tackles, Buffs, Sanders
Often in the NFL Draft, offensive tackles are slotted into some of the top picks of the draft, usually as contenders for a No. 1 overall draft pick. Recent years saw Joe Alt and JC Latham taken in the top 10 in 2024, Paris Johnson and Darnell Wright in 2023, and Ikem Ekwonu, Evan Neal, and Charles Cross in 2022 alone. This year, while there are surely some candidates to be first-round picks in this year’s class, an elite, top-10 tackle seems to be absent among them.
LSU’s Will Campbell is seemingly the only offensive lineman who has been granted a consensus opinion as a first-rounder, but many doubt that he will continue to play tackle in the NFL. Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, a perceived lack of strength has scouts shifting him inside to guard at the next level. Kelvin Banks Jr. at Texas held first-round potential for much of the year, but up-and-down performances throughout the year, accompanied by a rough performance against Georgia at home, have put that promise in doubt. Lastly, Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons likely held the highest chance at being a top-drafted tackle, but a torn patellar tendon will limit his availability until summer and diminish his draft stock.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid agrees with Breer’s sentiment, claiming that the entire offensive line group lacks the depth and top-end talent of last year’s group by a wide margin. He notes that Campbell, Banks, and Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea could all slide inside to guard and adds that most players in the class are getting Day 2 or 3 grades.
Here are some other rumors coming from the 2025 NFL Draft class:
- While the merit of early Heisman attestations is still to be determined, Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders likely couldn’t care less. With several NFL teams in attendance to watch a drubbing of the lowly Cowpokes at Oklahoma State, Hunter and Sanders likely had eyes on late-April. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, one NFL executive claimed that not only are Hunter and Sanders going to be drafted in the top five picks, but he also believes they will go back-to-back at Nos. 1 & 2 overall.
- In support of that prediction, Breer noted that the Giants sent a bevy of executives — general manager Joe Schoen, assistant general manager Brandon Brown, director of player personnel Tim McDonnell, and special assistant Jessie Armstead — to Boulder for practices and the game this week to get looks at Sanders with quarterback Daniel Jones already gone. In our latest look at the most-updated draft order (if the season were to end today), the Giants slotted in at No. 2 overall, tied with the Jaguars and Raiders with a 2-9 record. Since then, the Giants and Raiders have both lost additional contests, moving them up to Nos. 1 & 2, respectively, but if the Jaguars also fall tomorrow, they would be reinstated at No. 1.