There seems to be a consensus amongst everyone not named John Schneider that the Seattle Seahawks have a significant hole at guard. This was the case last season as well, when injury and ineffectiveness caused three players to try to hold down the right guard spot. After some juggling, Schneider entered this offseason with money and many draft picks to address the problem.
What did he do?
So far, virtually nothing. He allowed his left guard, Laken Tomlinson, to depart via free agency and lost a couple of backup tackles who provided little last year in George Fant and Stone Forsythe. In the first phase of free agency, he added just one lineman, the well-traveled Josh Jones. Jones has played some guard, but he profiles more as a Fant replacement who could serve as the swing tackle.
Perhaps Schneider still has faith in Christian Haynes, the guard he drafted in the third round last year. Maybe he shares my rose-colored view of young veteran Anthony Bradford in believing the much-maligned player can still be a decent NFL guard. Schneider drafted three offensive linemen last year and signed another quality prospect as an undrafted free agent.
Jonah Savaiinaea 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Schneider hasn’t completely ignored the position. He just hasn’t invested very much in it, and so far, none of his gambles have paid off. With all of his draft capital this year, might he try again, perhaps spending one of his second-rounders (picks 50 and 52 overall) on a more proven interior lineman?
If he does, I vote for the mammoth Arizona Wildcat, Jonah Savaiinaea. There’s a decent chance he will be available around the time of Schneider's round two picks.
Notes
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 324
- Recruiting Status: 3-star recruit signed with Arizona out of high school and played for the Sun Devils for three seasons
Positives
- Professional physique with a very strong base
- Moves exceptionally well for a man of his size
- Slimmed down from his high school playing which hovered around 350 to increase his mobility
- Played on both the right and left side at Arizona
- Started 35 games and logged over 2,400 snaps in three seasons
Savaiinaea is a giant of a man. He was able to overwhelm college competition with his sheer size. But he also showed the ability to get out in space. His sub-5 second 40 time would look good on a man 20 pounds lighter. He also put up numbers in the broad and vertical jump, along with a 10-yard split, that indicate the kind of outstanding power he generates from his legs.
In pass protection, he is challenging to get around, and on running plays, if he can reach you, chances are you are going to the ground. Savaiinaea stepped into the starting lineup immediately and never left. He switched positions when asked to and performed wherever he lined up.
Savaiinaea has the body, the physical tools, and the experience to compete for a starting spot from day one in the NFL.
Negatives
- Lacks the length and nimble feet to thrive at tackle in the NFL
- Did not play guard in college so is likely to be learning a new spot at his next stop
- Despite his raw power, he does not consistently move defenders on running plays. Tends to wall off lineman instead of driving them backwards
Savaiinaea played tackle in college because he could do it, and his team needed him there. But that position does him no favors. He had played guard in high school, and that high school has an upper-level program that has produced NFL players. He should not have too big a learning curve moving back inside. The move will mask difficulty with elite speed rushers on the edge.
Savaiinaea needs to prove that he can drive block at the next level. He was rarely asked to do it while playing tackle in college. Once he moves inside, there is very little concern that he will struggle in pass protection. His anchor is excellent. But he will need technique work to become a more effective run blocker. He has the physical tools to do it. He needs the proper development.
Jonah Savaiinaea NFL Player Comparison: Tyler Smith
Savaiinaea has not shown the killer instinct Smith has on running plays but there is no reason he cannot develop that skill. Like the Cowboys star, Savaiinaea will likely slide inside to guard after playing tackle in college. Smith has the length to move back outside if necessary.
For Savaiinaea, such a move back to tackle would come in emergencies only. He is a pro guard through and through. He has Smith’s size, power, and mobility, and is a more polished pass protector than Smith was at this stage of his career.
If he is never able to translate his impressive athletic gifts into becoming a dominant drive blocker, Savaiinaea still has plenty of value on passing downs and will be better than anyone currently on the Seahawks roster in the zone blocking schemes that Klint Kubiak will undoubtedly employ. He has a pretty solid floor and an exceptionally high ceiling.
Jonah Savaiinaea 2025 NFL Draft Grade: 2nd round
Depending on how positions are defined, Savaiinaea ranks between four and eight on most draft boards amongst guard prospects. For my money, only the more polished Grey Zabel and the physically dominant Tyler Booker are better guard prospects. If Schneider can get Savaiinaea in the second round, he would immediately upgrade the line.