The Arizona Cardinals had plenty of holes after last season ended with 14 losses. GM Monti Ossenfort was tasked with attempting to fill needs on both sides of the ball.
During free agency, Ossenfort signed 20 players to date, with nine dedicated to the offense alone. That breaks down to one QB, two RBs, one TE, two WRs, and three offensive linemen.
RELATED: ANALYSIS AND GRADING OF OFFENSIVE FREE AGENTS
After the free agency signings, the Cardinals’ offensive line has changed quite a bit.
Currently, the
depth chart lists Hjalte Froholdt at center, Paris Johnson is still penciled in at LT, and backup Isaiah Adams is listed at RG. New on the chart are LG Isaac Seumalo and RT Elijah Wilkinson.
So, where would Mauigoa fit? Why should Arizona draft him?
Mauigoa is considered the best offensive lineman in this year’s draft. And he is young. Wilkinson is 31 years old, Seumalo is 32, and another free agent lineman the Cardinals signed, Matt Pryor, is also 31. Not that any of these players can’t do a great job – all of them can. Seumalo was ranked the best offensive guard in free agency, and Ossenfort showed that age wasn’t an issue as he gave a three-year deal.
Every single team in the league wants Mauigoa because he is an absolute beast. 89% grading of pass blocking and 81% run blocking grade. He accumulated 42 consecutive starts with over 2,800 offensive snaps at mainly RT and some RG. Allowed two snaps in his final season.
OT Francis Mauigoa
Draft projection: Round 1
Cardinals pick: #3
Specifics:
Accolades: Consensus All-American, First Team All-ACC (2025), Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, Second Team All-ACC (2024), Honorable Mention All-ACC (2023), Freshman All-American (2023)
Positives:
- Huge build
- Concussive force with an initial hand punch
- Great balance and body control
- Very coachable
- Three-year starter at RT
- Wingspan 80 3/4 inches
- Elite muscle density
- Can redistribute power through defenders
Negatives:
- Limitations in gravitational pulls
- Wandering hand placement
- Late recognition of delayed loopers
- Lateral quickness caps out
Expert Draft Site Analysis
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. 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. In the passing game, Mauigoa shows off a devastating hand punch that he can deploy with either or both hands. The quickness with which he delivers that hand punch stuns defenders and knocks them off their path. In the run game, Mauigoa excels working downhill. His ability to stay low to the ground, despite his size, to 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.
