Grading the pick: Giants refuse to trade down and make offensive selection that screams John Harbaugh football
New York decided to keep the 10th pick and selected Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa right after taking Arvell Reese with the fifth selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The New York Giants are leaning on John Harbaugh’s brand of physical, old school football. After selecting a defensive upfront piece in Arvell Reese, the Giants refused to trade down and drafted Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Francis Mauigoa’s Key Facts and Stats Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
- 2,455 college snaps at right tackle
- 10 college snaps at right guard
- 10 pressures allowed in 2025
- 439 pass-block snaps in 2025
- 98.5% pass-block efficiency
Francis Mauigoa’s scouting report
The benefit of Francis Mauigoa is that he is one of the safest offensive line prospects in recent memory. What you see is what you get, and what that is an immediate quality starter. Mauigoa is a thick, powerful blocker with superb play strength, anchor, and technique that allow him to dominate the point of attack in the run game and shut down power rushers.
His stiff lower half limits his range on an island at offensive tackle, which has prompted many to speculate his best football could come inside at guard. He has enough movement skills to work at tackle, particularly in a downhill rushing scheme that protects its tackles. Regardless, Mauigoa can be an immediate tone setter for any offensive line as soon as he enters the league. It’s a similar player to Rams’ Kevin Dotson if he were to move inside to guard.
Positional reasoning
The Giants have a relatively comfortable situation at tackle with star lineman Andrew Thomas on the left side and a viable starter on the right with Jermaine Eluemunor, who just signed a three-year extension with the team.
On the interior, though, the situation wasn’t as appealing. The projected starting guards are Jon Runyan, a free agent addition from 2024, and Daniel Faalele, who signed an inexpensive deal to reunite with John Harbaugh after spending his first four seasons in the NFL playing for the Baltimore Ravens. The center is John Michael Schmitz, a second-round pick in 2023 who has been an average starter.
The backup tackles are Marcus Mbow and Reid Holskey. The depth guards are Evan Neal, Joshua Ezeudu, Jake Kubas, and Aaron Stinnie. Bryan Hudson is a center, and recently-signed Lucas Patrick has the versatility to play all interior spots.
Mauigoa was a college tackle, but he offers positional flexibility to play anywhere. And that’s exactly what the Giants needed upfront.
Grade: B
