A late pre-draft medical question does not appear to have changed anything for former Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Thursday that Mauigoa's recheck of his back was completed with "no new issues or concerns," a significant update for one of the draft's top offensive line prospects.
After the request for a recheck was made in early March, Mauigoa still met with teams in the top of the first round, which points to confidence that any concerns would be cleared up when it was all said and done.
Miami OT Francis Mauigoa’s recheck is complete, with no new issues or concerns, source says. After the request for a recheck was made in early March, Mauigoa met/visited with teams in the top third of the first round, an sign of his confidence any concerns would be satisfied. https://t.co/bpjlDTVQZN
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 9, 2026
What prompted Francis Mauigoa's medical recheck
The recheck stemmed from a minor back issue that caused Mauigoa some discomfort late in Miami's 2025 season.
Ian Rapoport previously reported that Mauigoa was headed to the combine recheck for additional imaging on the issue, but added that he was not considered a candidate for immediate surgery, had worked out fully at Miami's pro day and was symptom-free at the time.
#Miami OT Francis Mauigoa, potentially the top tackle in the Draft, has decided to be at Combine Rechecks on Friday for additional imaging on a minor back issue that caused him some discomfort late in the season, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 8, 2026
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Mauigoa started 42 straight games in college,… pic.twitter.com/iHdA9tRkJa
Mauigoa started 42 games at right tackle for Miami, earned consensus first-team All-America honors in 2025 and took home the ACC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He's as much of a "sure-thing"Â as there is during the pre draft process and, ironically, this was the only bit of concern that had popped up.
So, while the back issue briefly became news, it now looks far less significant. Mauigoa is still one of the draft's top tackles, and Thursday's recheck result removed any concern.
ESPN's four-man panel (Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates) all rank him as the No. 1 offensive tackle and PFF slots him as the seventh overall prospect. Recent mocks show him going No. 3 to Arizona (Daniel Jeremiah and Miller), No. 5 to the Giants (Peter Schrager), and No. 11 to the Miami Dolphins (Reid and Yates).