Francis Mauigoa has perfect answer for the most-asked question at the NFL combine

Is he an NFL tackle? Or is he a guard?

Miami's projected first-round offensive lineman, Francis Mauigoa, didn't fight the premise of the question during his media session at the NFL combine.

"Like I told the guys, there are five positions. I'll make sure I take one of them," Mauigoa said. "I mean, I play right tackle. It would be cool if I stay at tackle, but if guard is the way I get into the game, I’m gonna give it my all."

Francis Mauigoa just wants to play ball

That mindset is part of why Mauigoa is viewed as one of the safer OL prospects in the 2026 draft class. He has been a right tackle for almost every meaningful snap of his football life, and he started all 42 games of his three-year Miami career.

It also doesn't hurt that he was named the 2025 ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner and was a consensus first-team All-American, along with first-team All-ACC honors.

Mauigoa measured 6-foot-5 1/2 and 329 pounds, with 10 5/8-inch hands and 33 1/4-inch arms at the NFL combine. 

Some teams see Mauigoa as a plug-and-play right tackle. Others think he would be better suited elsewhere on the line, especially if they aren't completely sold on him as a tackle. Teams could want to kick him inside because they're not convinced he's athletic enough to handle speed rushers.

But, to his credit, Mauigoa had daily practice battles against Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. Both players are also projected to be first round picks in the upcoming NFL draft. For most teams, that — plus the resume he put together in actual college games — will be enough to take him as a tackle. And since there were no glaring measuements that could bring his stock down, it seems like most teams will be in that boat come April.