The New York Giants selected offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. General manager Joe Schoen noted Mauigoa's impressive performance against top competition at Miami.
Key points
Giants selected Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick
Mauigoa played at Miami before being drafted
General manager Joe Schoen praised Mauigoa's performance against top competition
Mauigoa will start at guard but can play tackle
Giants traded Dexter Lawrence to acquire the pick
New York GiantsMiamiCincinnati Bengals
What pre-draft scouting reports said about Giants OL Francis Mauigoa
The New York Giants made two picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night, calling the names of Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese (No. 5 overall) and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (No. 10 overall).
"We're going to put him inside at guard. He can certainly play tackle," general manager Joe Schoen said. "Sometimes we call these schools and get the film, and they have two really good rushers down there in Miami in (Ahkeem) Mesidor and (Rueben) Bain, and to watch the practice film -- he's going against NFL dudes on a daily basis, and doing a really good job, it was pretty impressive. He can certainly always bump back out to tackle at any point. We're going to start him at guard."
Dallas Cowboys (home, away)
Washington Commanders (home, away)
Q&A
What did scouting reports say about Francis Mauigoa before the draft?
Scouting reports highlighted Mauigoa's strong performance against elite competition at Miami, showcasing his ability to handle NFL-caliber rushers.
Why did the Giants draft Francis Mauigoa?
The Giants drafted Mauigoa to bolster their offensive line, specifically planning to start him at guard after trading All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence.
What position will Francis Mauigoa play for the Giants?
Mauigoa will initially play at guard but has the versatility to move to tackle if needed.
Who did the Giants select before Francis Mauigoa in the 2026 NFL draft?
Before selecting Mauigoa, the Giants picked Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the 5th overall pick.
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A three-year starter at Miami, Mauigoa was a mainstay at right tackle in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawsonās balanced scheme. A former five-star recruit, he earned a starting role from day one and started all 42 games the past three seasons (he led the Hurricanes in snaps played in both 2024 and 2025). A consensus All-American his final season, he was a pivotal part of Miamiās run to the 2025 national title game and became the first Miami player since 2005 (Eric Winston) to earn the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACCās top blocker.
A wide-bodied blocker and āFreaks Listā alum, Mauigoa carries his weight well. He doesnāt have elite length or foot quickness, but he plays with a relaxed feel in space to mirror and put rushers in a vise. He stays centered in pass sets and has a sturdy anchor to make defenders pay for trying to go through him. He gets in trouble lunging in the run game but plays stout through his extension to seal inside/outside run lanes.
Highly touted prospect who met expectations as a durable three-year starter at right tackle. Mauigoa has a guard's broad build, but he moves like a tackle in pass sets. Heās highly experienced with an impressive football IQ that pops on tape. He has good contact balance and a strong core. He delivers firm first contact but excessive leaning diminishes not only his leverage and sustain as a run blocker but also his ability to deal with spin counters when protecting. Heās good at trapping rushers at the turn and can smother their momentum. He has the footwork, anchor and punch timing to diversify his pass-set approach. He works with an innate feel for pocket depth and is rarely out-paced to the top by speed. Mauigoa has a high ceiling but the leaning must be eradicated. Heāll be an early starter at right tackle but a move to guard could be on the table in the future.
Mauigoa is a powerful run blocker with excellent size (6-foot-5 1/2, 329 pounds) and heās a competitive pass blocker with the agility to get better. He works his hands inside, moves his feet well in the run game, and tracks linebackers well with combination blocking to the second level. He fits best in man- or gap-heavy schemes, but he reaches frontside edge defenders and scoops backside threeātechniques as a zone blocker.
A Miami team captain and three-year starter at right tackle, Mauigoa was awarded the ACCās Jacobs Blocking Award as the conferenceās best blocker in 2025. He leans and falls off blocks, takes sound angles, and clears out linebackers when he releases directly up to the second level. He smoothly and quickly gets out of his stance and into his sets as a pass blocker. He can mirror and hold his ground when he wins with his hands. He keeps working, and he flashes the ability to recover when he gets caught out of position.
He sometimes overextends and loses his balance at the top of sets, and can overset and get beat to the inside. Also, he has short arms (33 1/4 inches) for an offensive tackle prospect.
Mauigoa is a tone-setter who brings a physical mentality that offensive line coaches dream about installing in their room. His anchor and power translate immediately to the NFL level, and you can plug him in at right tackle on day one without losing sleep over protection breakdowns against power rushers. The run game impact will be felt from the first snap, as his ability to create movement and finish blocks with bad intentions can transform a team's ground attack overnight.
The scheme fit is versatile enough to work in multiple systems. Gap and power concepts highlight his strengths as a drive blocker who can move the line of scrimmage, while his improving athleticism gives him the tools to execute in zone-heavy attacks with continued development. Teams running heavier play-action schemes will love his ability to sell the run before settling into pass protection. Quick game and moving pocket concepts would complement his current skill set at tackle while he continues refining his angles against speed. His elite anchor and heavy hands translate everywhere, making him scheme-proof at the point of attack.
Here's a true mauler. Mauigoa is fun to watch for the way he just destroys pass rushers at the point of attack. He had more than 2,700 snaps at right tackle and has the pass protection skill to stick there, but he could absolutely slide inside and become a Pro Bowl-caliber guard at the next level. Mauigoa allowed two sacks and blew only 13 run blocks since the start of the 2024 season.
Francis Mauigoa has long been anticipated as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. After joining the Hurricanes as a five-star recruit, he immediately entered the fray as a full-time starter at offensive tackle, and earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2024. In 2025, he was a first-team All-ACC competitor and a consensus All-American.
At 6'6", 335 pounds, Mauigoa has exceptional mass and inbuilt power, and he's a nimble, explosive, and rangy mover with easy hip flexibility, torque, and realignment freedom. More than that, he's already an incredibly balanced mover and an advanced hand-fighter, who specializes as an opportunistic attacker with situational adaptability. Momentary lapses in intensity occasionally appear on his tape, and his middling length might hint at a more productive NFL future as a guard.
Nonetheless, he can be an impact starter at either spot, with a persistent poise and precision in pass protection and a mauling edge in the ground game.
In pass protection, Mauigoa showed improvement and became a reliable protector in his final season. Mauigoa has natural strength, and his ability to sustain blocks is superb. When Mauigoa gets his hands on defenders, they are done and have zero ability to get a second effort. Mauigoa has a strong anchor to stop bull rushes, and power rushers really struggle to get any kind of pressure against him. Mauigoa could use some development for taking on speed rushers, and that is why some scouts feel he might be best moving inside. He sometimes is too shallow in his drop, and that leads to him reaching or lunging after rushers. He needs to improve his ability to keep his feet moving. He could stand to improve his hand placement in pass sets as well. Mauigoa is a talented player, so some of these issues could be improved with NFL coaching.
In the ground game, Mauigoa is nasty at the point of attack and a real force. He has the sheer power to reset the line of scrimmage and knock defenders backwards. With brute force, Mauigoa can drive them off the ball and create movement for his back. With a developed upper body, Mauigoa has the strength to control, turn, and manipulate defenders at the point of attack. With violence and tenacity, drive will finish off opponents and pound them into the turf. While drive is a mauler, he is able to hit blocks on the second level and is able to kick out to the perimeter. Mauigoa is quick as a puller and getting out on perimeter runs. He moves well in space to hit blocks in the open field and is excellent on screens. With a serious mean streak, Mauigoa blocks through the whistle and is very physical. Mauigoa is an asset in short-yardage situations and can win blocks over defenders even when they know what is coming. He should be an asset as a run blocker in the NFL quickly in his pro career.
