Where Francis Mauigoa fits on Giants' offensive line in the short- and long-term

Eluemunor has already stated that he is keen to work with the rookie, who will lineup on his inside shoulder if all goes to plan and he ends up as the starting right guard. He should be an ideal mentor for Mauigoa, because he’s played both as a guard and tackle and can therefore instruct him on some of the vagaries of the guard position, while also grooming Mauigoa to be his successor at the tackle position.

The three-year deal means the Giants will be in no rush to do this, but once Mauigoa is ready for right tackle to become his permanent position, Eluemunor’s versatility should still enable him to contribute in some capacity.

In college, Mauigoa had no extensive opportunities to play right guard, although he did gain some brief experience there last season when the Hurricanes experimented with some unbalanced line formations down the stretch. In these packages, Mauigoa did line up as the right guard, with the usual right guard moving over to the left side and a sixth lineman entering the game to line up outside Mauigoa.

These packages were particularly effective in a late-season win over Pitt, with wide receiver Malachi Toney taking a wildcat snap and throwing a touchdown pass in the red zone on one such play.

Mauigoa’s power at the point of attack and strong anchor should serve him well at the guard position, and it may also mask some of his current weaknesses in terms of having the footspeed to stay in front of a speed rush off the edge. That’s something he can work on as he prepares to move there in future -- which is a process that should begin immediately, in case he is suddenly required to move outside because of an injury to one of the starting tackles.

If Mauigoa struggles with the transition, they have Faalele -- a player Harbaugh is familiar with from their time together in Baltimore -- available all a fall-back option. Alternatively, if Mauigoa proves to be more comfortable at tackle than expected, then they could consider moving Eluemunor back inside instead.

Protecting Jaxson Dart is a priority for the Giants in 2026 and beyond, especially after he took some punishment at times last season. The Giants have done a solid job of shoring up their protection personnel and Mauigoa looks set to play a big role in this effort. In fact, as he said in viral comments after the draft, he is “ready to die for” Dart.

That level of commitment, together with the talent and power Mauigoa provides, bodes well for the Giants to have a stronger offensive line this season. If all goes to plan, it should also be one with a bright future.