The Dolphins agreed to a fully guaranteed deal with second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea on Friday, ensuring that all of their draft choices will be present when the team takes the field for its first training camp practice on Wednesday.
That’s critical for Savaiinaea, who is being projected to step in as a starting guard as a rookie, opposite veteran free-agent pickup James Daniels, who is working back from a torn Achilles’ sustained in Week 4 last year.
Savaiinaea’s signing was delayed because of a concerted effort by second-round picks and their agents to secure guaranteed money on the fourth year of their rookie contracts.
In the past, that fourth year had not typically been guaranteed for players selected after the first round.
That changed this year when the Houston Texans gave Jayden Higgins a fully guaranteed $11.7 million over the next four years.
The Dolphins fully guaranteed the entirety of Savaiinaea’s contract, which is a four-year deal for $11.3 million.
Though only two second round picks had signed as of the first week of July, 13 second-round picks signed over the past week, and not all of them received fully guaranteed deals.
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins, the No. 43 pick, agreed to a four-year, $10.3 million contract that includes over $9 million guaranteed.
The Dolphins targeted Savaiinaea in the draft, sending the Raiders their second-round pick (48), third-round pick (98), and a fourth-round pick (135) to move up to the 37th overall pick (used on Savaiinaea) and acquire a fifth-round pick (143).
He started 36 games at Arizona: 16 at right tackle, 15 at right guard, 5 at left tackle.
But the Dolphins see him as a guard and he’s projected to start ahead of Liam Eichenberg unless he struggles badly during training camp and preseason.
“This was a player we had targeted, we spent a lot of time with, we had him in on a 30 visit, spent a lot of time at all-star games,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said of Savaiinaea after drafting him. “[Offensive line coach] Butch Barry went out and spent a day with him and had a private workout with him. This is a player that we were very convicted on for what he can add with his size, his power, he’s got versatility.
“He’s played tackle, guard. So he’s an athletic kid, and as we spent time getting to know him he was the right kind of guy for us. He loves ball, he’s very competitive, so for us it was important as we were going through the board that he was the highest rated guy we had. And so the opportunity arose and we took it.”
The 6-5, 326-pounder said after the draft that joining the Dolphins is a “dream come true.”
Savaiinaea’s work ethic and diligence impressed the team during the offseason program.
Daniels said the rookie “is always texting me, always texting other players asking for advice. It’s not an easy offense. I’m proud of his development.”