In Matt Miller's full seven-round NFL mock draft nine Hurricanes come off the board, led by Francis Mauigoa at No. 3 overall, Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 9 and Akheem Mesidor at No. 23. That is a massive haul for one program and another reminder of how much pro talent Miami put on the field during its run to the College Football Playoff national championship game.Â
Three Canes go in Round 1
Miller sends Mauigoa to the Arizona Cardinals with the third overall pick, then has Bain going ninth to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Mesidor rounds out the first-round trio at No. 23 to the Eagles.
The middle rounds are strong for Miami
Miller has Keionte Scott going No. 45 overall to Baltimore in Round 2 and Carson Beck follows at No. 65 to Arizona.
Miami players keep getting drafted well into Day 3
Miller has Anez Cooper going No. 110 to the Cincinnati Bengals, Jakobe Thomas going No. 121 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, CJ Daniels going No. 208 to the Las Vegas Raiders in Round 6 and Markel Bell going No. 215 to the Atlanta Falcons a few picks later.
Nine players getting drafted for Miami would be great for the program
If Matt Miller's mock plays out exactly as written, with nine Miami players drafted, it would be a massive class for the program. The school's biggest draft classes were 12 in 1988, 11 in 1963, and 11 in 2002. The Hurricanes also hit nine in 1990, 1991, 1993, 2004, 2006 and 2017. A nine-player class in 2026 would be tied for the fourth-highest single-draft total in school history.Â
In the seven-round era, it would also be near the top. Miami's 2002 draft class of 11 is still the school's best since the NFL moved to seven rounds in 1994.
And if you look at just the first round, Miller projecting Francis Mauigoa, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor in Round 1 is big too. Miami last had three first-rounders in 2007, and the all-time program high is six first-round picks in 2004.