While this might not be an NFL Draft with any sure things as top prospects, the Miami Hurricanes may have the two closest offerings to that. Although edge rusher extraordinaire Rueben Bain Jr. and promising offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa have been widely seen at top-12 locks, Mauigoa may be entering top-five lock territory. He might only go a few picks after Fernando Mendoza to Las Vegas...
ESPN's Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr. believe Mauigoa could be ideal for the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3.
Francis “Cici” Mauigoa allowed just 2 sacks on 1,055 pass blocking snaps over the past two seasons.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 13, 2026
He’s a balanced and nimble right tackle with big time power in the running game too.
And would be a logical fit for the Cardinals at pick 3, as discussed with @MelKiperESPN ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/I6gEBdhmCB
Kiper and Yates cite Mauigoa allowing only two sacks in 1,055 pass-blocking attempts over the last two seasons. While Miami has been a resurgent program over the last few years, keep in mind that Mauigoa is only turning pro after three. He also has had a different starting quarterback to work with all three seasons in Carson Beck last year, Cam Ward in 2024, and Tyler Van Dyke way back in 2023.
For as unstable of a franchise as the Cardinals are today, this feels like a safe pick for them to make.
NFL Draft experts have Francis Mauigoa going to the Arizona Cardinals
With only the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets picking ahead of them, the Cardinals could have their pick of the litter once Mendoza and some other prospect of note are off the board. While Monti Ossenfort was retained as general manager in Arizona, it will be Mike LaFleur's first NFL Draft as the Cardinals' head coach. He favors the offensive side of the ball, so a tackle makes a lot of sense.
Overall, Arizona is one of the last places a prospective NFL talent would want to go to. Then again, players of Mauigoa's caliber signed up for this by declaring early. It is the great consequence of going from a great college team to the pros. Oftentimes, the best players are tasked with going to the worst NFL franchises. That is why the NFL Draft is so fascinating. What players can make it work anyway?
Ultimately, Mauigoa to the Cardinals seems like a decent tone-setter of a pick that Arizona needs under a new head coach. While it may prove out that Jonathan Gannon is more of a coordinator than a head coach, Arizona is a dysfunctional organization because the Bidwills own the team. It may not be the sexiest of picks, but adding power along the offensive line could help Arizona out a ton here.
It is hard to see Mauigoa falling past the New York Giants at No. 5 or the Cleveland Browns at No. 6.