The big man has had a big fall off in the draft process.
NFL scouts get paid to uncover the next rising star, but these king-makers also hold the power to tank a player’s draft stock. Their current target is the subject of our article today.
At 6’4”, 340 pounds, there aren’t many prospects built like Arizona’s offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea.
Jonah Savaiinaea is a very intriguing OL prospect at 6-5 336 lbs but can play OT & OG
He pops off right away as an exceptional pass blocker and due to his ability to play all over the line, he seems very in tune with DL stunts
He might struggle with elite speed off the edge… https://t.co/bPokZSsoxV pic.twitter.com/0BL3lLDm2n
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) January 23, 2025
These draft scouts were initially and keenly drawn to Savaiinaea’s versatility and experience. Savaiinaea played right guard as a freshman, played both right guard and right tackle his sophomore year, and in 2024 split time at both tackle spots. He’s easily the most position-versatile player in the class… the question is where to put him?
Unfortunately, scouts have soured on Savaiinaea’s film and potential. Footwork inconsistencies and pad level concerns are the most widely emphasized faults. His fall from a perennial first round prospect to mid-day two pick has been among the most drastic corrections of the draft season.
Due to his immense size and movement skills, the NFL has pegged him as a guard. That decision and the rise of other film-based prospects such as Josh Conerly Jr. and Armand Membou have weighed down his draft stock.
Savaiinaea still possesses the same size, strength, and potential as he did before the draft process started and NFL.com’s Draft Profile of Savaiinaea details such traits:
NFL.com’s Draft Profile: Strengths
Dense frame with excellent thickness through limbs.
Patient with hands but fires them with timing and accuracy.
Uses posture and core to control rushers once he’s locked in.
Space-eating frame will be tough to beat quickly inside.
Able to shove angle blocks around with upper-body strength.
Does a nice job of finding and fitting up second-level targets.
BATTLE RED ANALYSIS:
His pass protection needs legitimate ironing out… mainly due to constantly switching positions throughout college. Watch his film above; his footwork is position agnostic rather than refined and nuanced. It’s like solving the problem “fitting a square peg into a round hole” by simply finding a small enough square peg to work in any round hole.
In the run game and screen game, he hits more for contact rather than hit to move people. A general lack of hand usage diminishes the power he generates. It’s a case of “always being the biggest guy”, which won’t be true in the NFL. If a team can teach him to arrive at the point of contact and latch on, he’ll be an immediate starter.
THE COMPARISON:
While different size and body composition, Savaiinaea reminds me of San Francisco 49ers standout rookie Dominic Puni. Puni fell in the draft from a first to a third round pick fairly quickly in the draft process. The 49ers moved him inside to guard and he was the sixth rated guard in the NFL according to PFF. Neither Puni nor Savaiinaea are known for their footwork, but both know how to use their body to their advantage. What Savaiinaea needs to learn that Puni was able to adopt was better use of his length to direct the force of contact and sustain blocks.
THE FIT:
The NFL believe the elite size, play-strength potential, and necessary footwork work-in-progress suggest Savaiinaea’s career would best be suited to a move to right guard. Landing with Houston would mean he can sit behind RG Shaq Mason to begin 2025 and develop into the starting guard long term. Locking Savaiinaea into one position will help crystalize his technique and hone his footwork.
He will excel in blocking situations where he can combine with Tytus Howard or Blake Fisher and be less vulnerable to speed getting around him. His wide body will force bigger defensive tackles to work through his frame and he can lean into his weight rather than fight to keep up with quicker defenders. While it’s unclear what run scheme Houston will incorporate with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, Savaiinaea offers a high-upside run blocking force to grow within a veteran offensive line.
Expected Draft Range: Mid-round three
If he is available in the third round, the Houston Texans would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable, long-term solution for the offensive line in the second day of the draft.