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Francis Mauigoa | Getty Images
With their second of two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants on Thursday selected Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. The Giants took Ohio State edge defender Arvell Reese at No. 5.
The Giants passed on the opportunity to select back-to-back Ohio State defenders, choosing to bypass safety Caleb Downs. Downs was a player who had been connected to the Giants throughout the draft process.
Mauigoa is a player who could begin his Giants career at right guard and eventually slide out to right tackle to replace Jermaine Eluemunor in a couple of years.
NFL.com says:
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. He’s 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. He’s 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.
In his draft guide, Dane Brugler of The Athletic says:
STRENGTHS
● Thick, dense frame with big thighs, burly calves and smooth muscle throughout
● Plays with core power and ankle/hip flexibility in all areas of his game
● Stays square and controlled as pass blocker
● Agile in kick slide and pushes rushers around the arc
● Patient with his punch and doesn’t uncoil too early
● Stout anchor and stays balanced through contact to settle vs. bull rushers
● Outstanding grip/hand strength; tough to shed
● Creates vertical push in run game
● Steers his man away from the lane and loves to finish through the whistle
● Caught a pass behind the line for a 3-yard rushing touchdown vs. Syracuse in 2025
● Rarely left the field past three seasons, starting all 42 games
WEAKNESSES
● Good foot speed for a guard; only average foot speed for a tackle
● Mediocre arm length, which shows when attempting to stay attached in space
● Ends up on the ground too much, especially when dropping eye level and lunging
● Won’t manhandle NFL defenders — needs to focus more on his leverage
● Gets caught leaning outside in setup, leaving inside rush lanes ripe for the taking
● Almost all his college snaps (99.5 percent) came at right tackle — position versatility is a projection (Mauigoa requested guard reps in practice to gain some experience inside: “There are five offensive line positions; I just want one of them.”)
SUMMARY
A three-year starter at Miami, Mauigoa was a mainstay at right tackle in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s 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 Miami’s 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 ACC’s top
blocker.
A wide-bodied blocker and “Freaks List” alum, Mauigoa carries his weight well. He doesn’t 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. Overall, Mauigoa is a durable blocker with coordinated movements, excellent play strength and the finishing mentality to match. Though his college tape says he can stay outside at right tackle, his skill set would be maximized inside at guard in the NFL.
Giants round-by-round draft selections
Round 1 (No. 5) — Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State
Round 2 (No. 10 … via Cincinnati Bengals) — Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Round 2 (No. 37) —
Round 4 (No. 105) —
Round 5 (No. 145) —
Round 6 (No. 186) —
Round 6 (No. 192) —
Round 6 (No. 193) —
Valentine’s View
After weeks of speculation regarding how they would handle right guard after not signing 2024 and 2025 starter Greg Van Roten in free agency, the Giants answered the question with this pick.
Rather than double-dipping on defense or reaching for a wide receiver with both Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson off the board, the Giants opted to try and help Jaxson Dart by building a wall in front of him.
So, the Giants have turned the pick they got in exchange for Dexter Lawrence into a big body that will help the line on the other side of the ball. They will have to look to fill Lawrence’s large shoes later in the draft or via free agency.
This is the seventh time in franchise history the Giants have had multiple first-round picks. The other six:
- 2025: OLB Abdul Carter (No. 3), QB Jaxson Dart (No. 25)
- 2022: OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 5), OL Evan Neal (No. 7)
- 2019: QB Daniel Jones (No. 6), DL Dexter Lawrence (No. 17), CB DeAndre Baker (No. 30)
- 1984: LB Carl Banks (No. 3), OL William Roberts (No. 27)
- 1972: DB Eldridge Small (No. 17), DE Larry Jacobson (No. 24)
- 1951: HB Kyle Rote (No. 1), FB Jim Spavital (No. 13)
More draft coverage
How to watch the rest of the draft
Rounds 2–3: Friday, April 24 — 7 p.m. ET
Rounds 4–7: Saturday, April 25 — 12 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes
- NFL Network offers a league-focused broadcast
- ESPN and ABC provide separate primetime coverage and analysis
Streaming:
Disney+ and Hulu (live TV packages required)
NFL+ (subscription required)
ESPN App
Other BBV platforms
BBV on X
BBV on Bluesky
Ed Valentine on Bluesky
BBV on Facebook
BBV on Instagram
BBV on YouTube
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