All that stands between Miami Hurricanes star offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and the 2026 NFL Draft is one more game. No matter what happens vs. the Indiana Hoosiers on Monday night, Mauigoa is one of a handful of Hurricanes players who are projected to go very high in this spring's draft. In fact, he is one of two Miami stars slated to go in the first round in Nicholas Rome's latest mock draft.
Rome has Mauigoa heading to the Detroit Lions at No. 17. He is the second Miami player taken, with edge rusher extraordinaire Rueben Bain Jr. off to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3. Miami has a decent shot at getting a third player taken inside the top 32 with fellow edge rusher Akheem Mesidor projected to go in the top 40. For what it is worth, NFL Mock Draft Database has Mauigoa at No. 8...
So why is Mauigoa falling some nine spots down from where he lies on the consensus big board? This is a very weak tackle class. Do the Lions already have two excellent tackles in Taylor Decker and Dan Skipper? Well, that is why Rome has Mauigoa tied to them. There is a chance that one, or both, may retire this offseason, or in short order. If they do, Mauigoa starts day one. If not, well, he kicks inside...
Of the many places where Mauigoa could end up at, Detroit would have to be the one to stop his fall.
Francis Mauigoa goes No. 17 to Detroit Lions in latest NFL mock draft
Of the many teams who could be interested in Mauigoa, there is a chance he could go as high as No. 3 to the Cardinals. That is where Rome has Bain mocked to, by the way... Other teams that could be in on him at this way-too-early stage of the game include the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams (by way of the Atlanta Falcons), and the Baltimore Ravens. The Lions have competition.
What makes the Lions fit so intriguing is Mauigoa seems to be too good of a prospect to potentially fall to them at No. 17. They may not need him right away, but his time to shine in Detroit could be imminent if Decker and Skipper retire in short order. In a way, he fits exactly into the ethos of what Dan Campbell is trying to do in Detroit, man. The question is if Mauigoa will be available at No. 17...
Overall, Mauigoa is a premium player at a premium position. It is why it would be shocking to see him fall out of the top-12 in this year's NFL Draft. If a team like the Lions is in dire need of him, they will be inclined to trade up. It is why Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling declared early. He knows how weak this tackle class is. For that reason, do not if Mauigoa is OT1 and goes somewhere around No. 8.
For now, Mauigoa has a national title to win over the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers on Monday night.