Even though the 2025 NFL season just started, it’s never too early to look ahead toward the 2026 NFL Draft. This weekly series will take a closer look at some of the prospects the Carolina Panthers could
select in the 2026 iteration of the Draft. In this series, we’ll only be looking at prospects the Panthers could seriously consider. This week our profile will focus on
Bio
Mauigoa has consistently been a top tackle prospect since leading his hometown high school team to an undefeated season. He then transferred to IMG Academy and was the consensus number one tackle in his class. He ultimately decided to attend Miami over other powerhouse schools like Alabama and Georgia. Mauigoa started 13 games at right tackle as a true freshman, earning Freshman All-ACC and Honorable Mention All-ACC awards. His sophomore season saw him get even better, particularly as a pass blocker. This year, he’s continued his dominance and is far and away the top tackle prospect for the 2026 Draft.
Strengths/Weaknesses
You’d be hard pressed to ask a scout about Mauigoa without them mentioning his insane physique. Coach Mario Cristobal said Mauigoa has “the most muscle density of any athlete we’ve had here at the University of Miami.” Despite being a literal mountain, Mauigoa has been clocked at over 20 miles per hour on multiple occasions. This athleticism and size combination pair well with his natural abilities as a blocker. He is also extremely coachable, as evidenced by his immense improvement year over year.
Mauigoa’s main weakness is consistency in technique. While his technique overall is good, occasionally his hand placement and pass sets show a lack of refinement. As with any physically dominant player, he also tends to rely on his physical traits to win as opposed to his technique, which could be exploited at the next level.
Projection
The consensus on Mauigoa seems to be that he is likely to become, at worst, an excellent right tackle with many scouts believing he could develop into one of the top blindside protectors down the line. While you can’t teach his size and athleticism, the things you can teach like technique and scheme he has taken to quite well.
While the Panthers might have more glaring needs this April, offensive tackle is an underrated position of concern. Ikem Ekwonu was played well enough at left tackle and will likely sign a modest extension in the offseason. There is still some question as to whether or not the former top 10 pick can stick at left tackle, especially considering the price point most left tackles demand. Assuming Icky returns and doesn’t break the bank, there’s still cause for concern at right tackle as Father Time has finally starting winning the battle against Taylor Moton. Moton’s contract makes it tough to outright move on from him, but there is an out after the 2026 season where the Panthers would only incur just under $14 million in dead cap. A post-June 1 designation would spread that over two seasons. Ideally both Ekwonu and Moton are back with the team the next couple of years and playing well, but passing on someone like Mauigoa with the question marks the other two have would be malpractice.
What do you think, Panthers fans? If Francis Mauigoa is available when the Panthers select in the 2026 NFL Draft, should they take him? Sound off in the comments!
