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Countdown To Training Camp: Did the Dolphins Finally Upgrade on the O-Line?

The countdown to Miami Dolphins Training Camp is now just days away. With camp on the horizon, we are previewing the different positions before anyone blows a whistle.

So far, we have covered the skill positions of QB, RB, and WR. But no matter how good those positions end up being for the Dolphins in 2025, we all know it begins and ends with the offensive line, which has been the same statement for close to three decades now.

Is the line better? Will it hold up with the inevitable injuries that wreck the line every season? Let’s check it out.

The Starters

After not using many resources and even mocking the media for suggesting so in 2024, GM Chris Grier made a point to highlight the offensive line in the 2025 offseason. He ended the 2024 season saying, “We’re going to have to invest in the offensive line now”. Maybe a few years late and a dollar short, but he did invest this offseason.

Miami traded up in the second round and used the 37th overall pick on Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea. He’s a big-time run blocker with above-average movement ability for his large size. He mostly played tackle in college but will be charged with moving to guard for the Dolphins. He graded very high in pass protection in college and should be an asset to protecting Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Savaiinaea joins 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul (LT) and 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson (RT) as homegrown OL talent. Jackson returns for this 6th season but is coming off a season-ending knee injury. Jackson has rebounded from a slow start to his career to become one of Miami’s best run blockers on the line. The issue will always be staying healthy as he has already had two injuries end seasons. Paul is now the starter at left tackle, taking over for Terron Armstead. Paul was a rookie last season, making three starts when Armstead was sidelined. He didn’t have a stellar rookie season, but now the team will count on him to step up and fill a tremendous void.

Joining the three drafted players on the line will be Center Aaron Brewer, who was signed as a 2024 free agent, and offseason signing Guard James Daniels from the Steelers. Brewer was one of the bright spots for the Dolphins last season, playing all 17 games and every offensive snap, something the Dolphins are not used to on their line. Daniels comes to Miami on a three-year, $24M dollar free agency contract and is projected to start at left guard. He is coming off a torn Achilles, but if healthy, should be a physical force for Mike McDaniel‘s run-blocking scheme.

The Depth Chart

Behind those projected starters, Miami brings back versatile lineman Liam Eichenberg. The former second-round pick has not impressed at any one position, but can play all five spots, one of the reasons Miami brought him back. He knows McDaniel’s scheme and likely will be first man up should anyone go down. Miami also signed G/T Larry Borom from the Bears, bringing back Kion Smith and filling out the depth chart with guard Jackson Carman and Center Andrew Meyer.

The line ranked 28th in ESPN’s Pass Block Win Rate metric and 27th in Pro Football Network’s Offensive Line rankings, so there is plenty of room to go up. The starters, minus Savaiinaea, all have experience on day one, and Miami traded up for that 2nd round pick, so Savaiinaea will be lining up right next to them. Health will always be a factor, but at least Grier and the Dolphins used some capital to invest in the OL after ignoring it for years.

This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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