Well-connected NFL insider Peter Schrager of ESPN is out with his first mock draft of 2026, and it has an interesting result for the New York Giants.
Like other insiders as we get closer to the draft, Schrager says his mock is based on “the latest intel on what teams might do with their first-round picks” and is his “best guess” at what teams intend to do in the real 2026 NFL Draft.
Let’s get to Schrager’s pick.
Round 1 (No. 5) — Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Schrager says:
New coach John Harbaugh referred to the offensive line as a “work in progress”
at the league meetings. That’s not what you want in front of a franchise quarterback who has shown a tendency to use his legs. But Jaxson Dart would love Mauigoa, a road paver with positional versatility. Mauigoa is expected to be the first offensive lineman off the board.
Valentine’s View
Before we begin discussing this pick, it is important to note that Notre Dame running Jeremiyah Love is off the board. He went No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans. The Ohio State trio of linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Caleb Downs, and wide receiver Carnell Tate are available. So is LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Have we focused too much in recent week on Styles and Downs and ignored the fact that the Giants are now coached by John Harbaugh, and that the offensive and defensive lines are always at the forefront of the thinking for the Harbaughs?
Free agency is a tell for how a team will approach the draft. The Giants did sign linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a three-year, $36 million contract, and Matt Miller of ESPN recently told Big Blue View that is why he selected Downs for the Giants instead of Styles in his most recent mock draft.
“I think New York is fascinating. I do think it is probably a split between Styles and Downs. What a great position to be in, right? You’ve got to choose between a generational talent at safety and one of the freakiest linebacker prospects we’ve seen in a long time.
“I think the Tremaine Edmunds signing, though, probably pushes me more toward Downs because Edmunds and Styles are essentially the same player — long, rangy, middle of the field eraser. That’s what Edmunds is.”
One thing the Giants have not done in free agency is sign a clear starter at right guard. Greg Van Roten, the starter for the past two seasons, remains in limbo. The Giants have journeymen Aaron Stinnie and Lucas Patrick, second-chance candidates Evan Neal and Josh Ezeudu, and practice squad holdovers Jake Kubas and Reid Holskey as current possibilities at Van Roten’s former spot.
I doubt that a right guard competition from that crew can really be Plan A for the Giants.
Enter the draft. And Mauigoa.
Schrager’s pick of Mauigoa is not the first time Mauigoa’s name has been connected to the Giants recently. Ryan Dunleavy, national NFL columnist for the New York Post, recently told the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast that he also believes Mauigoa is strongly in play for the Giants.
Mauigoa is Todd McShay’s top-ranked offensive lineman, and his No. 8 overall prospect. McShay says:
Mauigoa is one of the best offensive linemen in this year’s class. We believe that he will stick at right tackle in the NFL, but even teams that view him as a guard should view him as an early to middle first-round talent.
Mauigoa is a plug-and-stay starter who should at the very least get a look at right tackle, his college position. He compares well to the Bears 2023 10th overall pick Darnell Wright in terms of their size and shorter arms. Wright struggled as a pass blocker during his rookie season but has developed into one of the better right tackles in the league. If Mauigoa kicks inside to guard in the NFL, he could follow the path of Joel Bitonio. Bitonio is a seven-time Pro Bowl guard and five-time All Pro Guard who played tackle in college.
Sports Info Solutions has Mauigoa as the No. 5 prospect on its Big Board. SIS says:
With a bruising hand punch, stout blocking ability, and sheer size and strength, Mauigoa figures to be a mauling right tackle with a high ceiling right away at the next level, with All-Pro upside if he continues to develop and improve his minor inconsistencies.
Overall
Francis Mauigoa is the starting right tackle in Miami’s pro-style offense. Mauigoa is a former top high school tackle recruit and fit right into Miami’s starting lineup from Day 1. Overall, he played in and started all 42 career games, not missing a single game in his career. However, he had surgery to repair torn labrums in both shoulders following the 2024 season. His brother, Francisco, was a Jets draft pick last year at linebacker. Mauigoa is a mountain of a man that he pairs well with good overall athleticism. Despite his size, he is a very controlled and balanced athlete, with very good toughness. He shows mauler tendencies, and isn’t afraid to finish plays to and through the whistle when he can.
Pass Game
In the passing game, Mauigoa shows off a devastating hand punch that he can deploy with either or both hands. The quickness in which he delivers that hand punch stuns defenders and knocks them off their path. The timing of his punch is something that Mauigoa can switch up as well. Whether it’s right at the snap or further back into his kick slide, it proves effective in catching rushers off guard. He also can consistently absorb power rushes with a strong anchor. He is rarely off balance and does a great job to stay square to the rusher, regardless of their starting technique. He also shows good mirroring ability, especially to outside rushers, and can consistently ride them out of the play.
At times, Mauigoa can be susceptible to stunts and loops. He seems to diagnose just a tick late, and while his athleticism and power can, at times, make up the difference, he can fall a step behind and allow a cleaner path to the passer. In addition, he can get beat with speed or rip moves across the face, towards the inside, especially when his guard is blocking to the left. This is typically when he’s at the back of his vertical set and waiting on the rusher to get to him. He has a smooth kick that he pairs with proper leverage, but his pad level tends to rise and his feet stagnate as he awaits rushers. While not a major weakness, right slanting rushers can be schemed up to getting to the quarterback through the B gap. His awareness overall is good, and he consistently looks for work.Run Game
In the run game, Mauigoa excels working downhill. His devastating hand punch, along with his body mass coming behind, consistently drives defenders off the ball to create vertical push. He pairs his plus upper and lower-body strength with good body control, and it allows him to clean defenders out. This is especially apparent when working inside against defensive tackles. His ability to stay low to the ground, despite his size, punch the defender in the mid-section and drive them to his left, opening wide running lanes for his running back off his right hip.
While Mauigoa’s power in his hand punch is very good, the placement of that punch can leak a little wide at times. This is especially apparent if he needs to take a few steps to meet a defender, as his hands can get outside the body frame. His ability to combo block up to the 2nd level stands out. He delivers a heavy chip on a defensive lineman before working to the 2nd level with balance, control, and intent. One area he can improve upon is in space. He can make plays ahead of screens, but he seems to lack control and want to deliver a gigantic blow, which often leaves him lunging and missing potential defenders. Mauigoa shows good temperament, always playing with nastiness and toughness, but staying within the confines of the whistle.Last Word
Mauigoa projects as an immediate, high-end starter at right tackle at the next level. He’s scheme versatile and will fit seamlessly into a zone or gap scheme. Some teams could view him as a guard due to average length and his power.
Mauigoa could fill the right guard spot, and perhaps move out to right tackle in a couple of years when Jermaine Eluemunor’s contract expires. Or, if he is as good at guard as some think he could be, end up as an anchor on the interior of the Giants offensive line for the next several years.
Should we take the possibility the Giants could go in this direction in Round 1 more seriously?
