How far would Francis Mauigoa have to slide for Lions to trade up?

Mauigoa was both effective and durable throughout his collegiate tenure. He played a role in Miami owning a rushing attack ranked in the top 50 nationally in two of his three seasons (there are more than 130 teams at the FBS level), and the Hurricanes ranked 16th in sacks allowed per game in 2025 at 1.25. Mauigoa, who played 2,801 of his 2,814 offensive snaps at right tackle, never missed a start over his three years with the program.

Miami (Florida) offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) blocks the rush during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium.

Francis Mauigoa NFL draft analysis

There were 74 offensive tackles in the country last season who recorded at least 150 opportunities as a pass blocker in a true pass set, which is defined by Pro Football Focus as a pass play with four or more rushers, a quarterback drop of at least seven yards and a minimum time to throw of two seconds. It also excludes screen passes and reps that use play action. Mauigoa's pass blocking efficiency on those plays (97.7) was tied with three others for first among the 74 qualified OTs. Put simply, few were as successful at protecting the QB as Mauigoa, both in quality and quantity.

Mauigoa, measuring in at 6-foot-5½ and 329 pounds at the combine, used his plus size and strength to win efficiently. As noted by The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Mauigoa has excellent hand strength, making it difficult for opponents to shed his block once he makes contact. His average length and foot speed have some wondering if he's better as a guard at the next level, but neither concern is disqualifying to be a tackle (his arms were 33¼ inches at the combine, over the 33-inch benchmark), and he played the position at a high level while at Miami against respectable competition; 22 defenders on Miami's schedule had at least five sacks in 2025, and 11 had 6½ or more.

The Lions landing Mauigoa would almost assuredly have to come via a trade, as there's next to no chance he'll be available at No. 17 overall. So, what's the path to Mauigoa sliding? The Lions would need at least the Arizona Cardinals (No. 3), New York Giants (5) and Browns (6) to go elsewhere (whether that be another position entirely or other options at OT, like Georgia's Monroe Freeling or Utah's Spencer Fano), opening the door to Mauigoa slipping outside the top 10. At that point, the Los Angeles Rams (13) would be a team to worry about. Perhaps a deal could be struck with the Dallas Cowboys (12) if their top options are off the board.

Why could Mauigoa fall? Despite being an ironman at Miami, Mauigoa reportedly underwent a medical recheck after the combine with NFL teams due to a back issue, and some franchises believe he will eventually need a "cleanup procedure," according to a report from SI's Albert Breer, who added that Mauigoa is "symptom-free now." Breer also said it's "not the end of the world."

In terms of Mauigoa's fit in Detroit, he could take over at right tackle for Sewell, who Lions coach Dan Campbell said he wants to move to the left side. In the event Mauigoa isn't cut out for tackle in the NFL, he could bump inside to guard, where he'd compete with Christian Mahogany, Miles Frazier, Juice Scruggs and Ben Bartch. Larry Borom, signed by the Lions to a one-year deal this offseason, would then take over at right tackle. It's not a consensus (Fano or Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane are commonly in the discussion), but Mauigoa might be the best offensive lineman in the draft, regardless of position.

Previous profiles

▶ Missouri defensive end Zion Young

▶ Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell

▶ Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.

▶ Georgia linebacker CJ Allen

▶ Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq

▶ Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker

▶ Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling

▶ Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman

▶ Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey

▶ Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor

▶ Ohio State safety Caleb Downs

▶ Penn State guard Vega Ioane

▶ Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk

▶ Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano

▶ Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy

▶ Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor

▶ Miami edge defender Akheem Mesidor

rsilva@gannett.com

@rich_silva18

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Francis Mauigoa could help Lions get back to dominance on O-line