Cleveland Browns confirmed they had a Miami Hurricane on their radar after trading down with the Chiefs
The Browns went offensive line after trading back, and it came down to a pair of tackles that they were debating among their top three.
The Cleveland Browns were certainly active participants on the opening round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With two picks, they added two potential impact starters for a team that desperately needs an upgrade.
And the Browns made waves quickly when they orchestrated the first trade of the night. They moved back from No. 6 to No. 9 with the Kansas City Chiefs, who tabbed LSU CB Mansoor Delane.
The move left the Browns with a number of options, and in a recent video released by ESPN, Browns general manager identified after the trade the trio of players they planned to consider taking at No. 9.
That included former Miami Hurricanes star tackle Francis Mauigoa, according to Berry.
Miami Hurricanes OT Francis Mauigoa was among three players Browns were interested in taking at No. 9 in the 2026 NFL Draft
“So we traded out six, we’re going to nine with Kansas City,” Berry said. “With the thought being we have three guys that we would take with this spot with (Spencer) Fano, (Jordyn) Tyson, and (Francis) Mauigoa. We go to nine, and we’re guaranteed one of those positions. We’ll see what Washington and New Orleans do.”
Washington went with Ohio State LB Sonny Styles at No. 7, and New Orleans took Tyson one pick later, leaving the Browns with both of their offensive tackle options.
In the end, Berry gave Fano the nod over Mauigoa, and it appears as though new head coach Todd Monken was on board with the pick.
“His character was first, I mean, the way he’s wired,” Monken said. “I think the expectations that we will have for him won’t even match that he has for himself. His athleticism, his toughness, I mean, when you want to start off the first year of your regime, you talk about what you want: character, toughness, athleticism, he has it all.”
However, Mauigoa’s wait would end up being the shortest possible one. The New York Giants took him with the very next pick at No. 10, their second pick in the draft’s top ten picks.
Mauigoa was projected by many experts as the top offensive lineman taken in the draft, but he’ll have to settle for ultimately being the second one taken. We’ll find out in the coming years if the Browns got it right, or if the Hurricane All-American was the one whose name should have been called one pick sooner.