Sorting out Dolphins’ offensive line draft options. Guards needed at the least
Based on their public comments, the Dolphins have identified two building blocks on their offensive line: left tackle Patrick Paul and center Aaron Brewer. Austin Jackson also will stick around as a starter at right tackle, at least for another year.
That means the Dolphins hope to draft and develop a handful of players on a unit that they’re determined to construct into a tough, physical group that can win in cold weather and hold its own against formidable, physical offensive lines.
Guard Jonah Savaiinaea will have a chance to compete, but nothing will be gifted him now that his biggest advocate (Chris Grier) has been jettisoned. Former Chargers tackle/guard Jamaree Salyer will have every chance to win the right guard spot.
The likelihood is that Miami will take at least one offensive linemen among its first seven picks (11, 30, 43, 75, 87, 90, 94).
Breaking down the possibilities into three categories:
OPTIONS AT NO. 11
▪ UM’s Francis Mauigoa: While he could go as early as No. 3 to Arizona, there’s at least a modest chance he could slip to the Dolphins; in fact, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates have both mocked him to Miami at different points. Evaluators believe he can play right tackle or right guard.
Yates, in his last March mock draft, said new Dolphins GM “Jon-Eric Sullivan has referenced building his roster from the inside out, and Mauigoa would be a big boost to an offensive line that needs it. Miami ranked 24th in pass block win rate and 29th in run block win rate last season.
“Mauigoa is a steady, well-built pass protector with raw power and the ability to get to the second level. Right tackle Austin Jackson recently agreed to a reduced and restructured contract that’s over after next season, so Mauigoa could slide in there eventually.”
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said Mauigoa “should immediately be a dominant run blocker in the NFL, and he has the skill set to be functional in pass protection.”
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mauigoa is returning to the site of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Thursday for “additional imaging on a minor back issue that caused him some discomfort late in the season, sources say. Mauigoa started 42 straight games in college, and upon full professional consultation is not considered a candidate for immediate surgery. He did perform fully at his Pro Day and currently is symptom-free. But some teams have asked for additional testing on a disk issue.”
[Update: NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo reported Thursday afternoon that “Mauigoa’s recheck is complete, with no new issues or concerns, source says. After the request for a recheck was made in early March, Mauigoa met/visited with teams in the top third of the first round, an sign of his confidence any concerns would be satisfied.”]
▪ Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane: The Nittany Lions guard hasn’t given up a sack in the past two seasons and is “a great combination of power and agility,” Kiper said.
Drafting a guard at 11 is generally unsatisfying, but he would be an option if the Dolphins trade down a bit from 11. It seems unlikely he would be on the board with Miami’s pick at No. 30. He hasn’t been scheduled for a Dolphins 30 visit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Many clean prospects of interest to teams don’t get invited in for visits.
“Ioane was a dominant presence at left guard,” Jeremiah said. “Overall, I love Ioane’s temperament, toughness and ability to anchor. He’ll be an impact starter from Day 1.”
Yates rates him the 14th-best player in the draft. “He was exceedingly reliable at Penn State, meaning he could be a plug-and-play starter,” Yates said.
▪ Utah tackle Spencer Fano: He started at left tackle as a freshman and moved to right tackle the past two years. Fano has been projected to go anywhere from five to the mid-to-late-teens. Yates mocks him 14th.
Jeremiah said “Fano lacks length and is still developing as a pass protector, but he’s an explosive people mover with upside.”
▪ Georgia’s Monroe Freeling: He’s projected for Miami’s range, but this wouldn’t make sense because Freeling is a natural left tackle and Miami is set there with Paul.
“He has the most upside of any offensive lineman in this draft, with excellent size [6-7, 315 pounds] and athleticism (4.93-second 40-yard dash),” Yates said. “With only 18 starts under his belt, Freeling would need time to develop into a left tackle at the next level.”
OPTIONS IN A TRADE-DOWN FROM 11 OR 30
I would put Penn State’s Ioane in this group. Also:
▪ Clemson’s Blake Miller: Jeremiah’s No. 24 overall prospect “has ideal size, length and strength for the position... He has the ideal profile for a starting NFL right tackle.”
Kiper mocks him 29th but said he can play only right tackle: “Miller has 54 career starts, and his game just keeps growing on me. In pass protection, he stays square and handles most pass-rush moves with ease. And as a run blocker, he can get to the second level to spring big gains.” Yates mocks him 38th.”
▪ Alabama’s Kaydyn Proctor: All 40 of his college starts came at left tackle, but a move to guard isn’t out of the question. Either way, left tackle is one of very few spots where Miami doesn’t need a better starter. He’s considered a polarizing prospect.
Kiper: “Proctor’s tape is all over the place. The highs are really, really good. The lows raise a lot of questions. But in the right situation, he could become a standout tackle in the NFL.” Jeremiah said he “has the most upside of any blocker in this draft.”
▪ Utah’s Kaleb Lomu: He started at left tackle for Utah, with top-10 prospect Fano playing right tackle.
Lomu isn’t the prospect that Fano is because “in pass protection, he has average foot quickness and plays a little upright” and because “he lacks knock-back power” in the run game, as Jeremiah said.
Yates mocks him 24th, noting: “Lomu did not surrender a sack in 2025, but he must become a more physically formed tackle with improved strength at 6-foot-6, 313 pounds. Lomu is a balanced pass protector and an accurate striker in the running game.”
Miami would need to feel confident he could play right tackle.
OPTIONS AT NO. 43 OR IN A TRADE-DOWN FROM 43
▪ Iowa guard/tackle Gennings Dunker: His versatility could make him appealing to Miami, which values that. Yates mocks him 54th, adding: “Dunker has college experience at right tackle predominantly and both guard spots; he surrendered zero sacks in 2025. There is not a team in the NFL with adequate offensive line depth, so adding to this room is important.”
▪ Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor: Yates mocks him 48th. He impressed at the Senior Bowl, and it’s a toss-up if he’s there at 43. Jeremiah said “in the run game, he has knock-back power. It might take a little time, but Iheanachor has the raw tools to develop into a high-level starter.” But Kiper said he plays only one position; Miami likes versatile linemen.
▪ Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis: Yates mocks him 37th. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said he’s “a tough, well-schooled guard. In general, his protection meets the mark and pairs nicely with his run blocking. Bisontis projects as a future starter with plenty of upside.”
▪ Georgia guard Keylan Rutledge: Yates mocks him 35th, adding: “If your goal is to get tougher in this draft, good luck finding a player that fits that bill better than Rutledge. The physical, grading guard personified what was a hard-nosed, relentless program at Georgia Tech.”
▪ Among other potential Day 2 tackles: Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan (Yates mocks him 51st), Texas A&M’s Dametrious Crownover, Oregon’s Isaiah World, Florida’s Austin Barber and Boise State’s Cage Kasey.
▪ Among other potential Day 2 guards: Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon (Yates mocks him 55th), Notre Dame’s Billy Schrauth, Texas’ BJ Campbell, Oregon’s Alex Harkey, Iowa’s Beau Stephens, Texas A&M’s Ar’maj Reed-Adams, UCLA’s Garrett Digiorgio, Alabama’s Jaden Roberts and Kentucky’s Jalen Farmer.
Here’s my Thursday piece with details about Washington receiver Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who are both visiting Dolphins headquarters.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 12:19 PM.
