Mock drafts come pouring in after NFL combine and Miami players hold steady

Miami has three players land in the top-20 in the latest mock draft.
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (OL34) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (OL34) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

In The Athletic's post-Combine Round 1, the Hurricanes land three names in the top 20: Francis Mauigoa going No. 3 overall, Rueben Bain Jr. inside the top 10, and Akheem Mesidor in the teens. Dane Brugler created the mock draft.

In the mock draft, Mauigoa goes to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3, Rueben Bain Jr. is selected by the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9 and Akheem Mesidor goes to the Carolina Panthers at No. 19. Each projection seems reasonable based on early evaluations and previous predictions before the combine.

Miami has three players land in top-20 in latest mock draft

At the combine, Mauigoa measured in at 6-foot-5 1/2, 329 pounds with 33 1/4-inch arms and an 80 3/4-inch wingspan, but he did not work out in Indianapolis.

Bain measured in at 6-foot-2, 263 pounds with 30 7/8-inch arms and a 77 1/2-inch wingspan at the combine.

Mesidor is an older prospect, but scouts tend to live with that when the player looks pro-ready, and Mesidor is polished as a rusher. He checked in at 6-foot-3, 259 pounds with 32 1/8-inch arms and a 78 3/4-inch wingspan. Mesidor is trending as a mid-to-late first-round pick in a lot of post-combine evaluations, with some evaluators weighing upside vs. age and medical history.

The draft is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.

Francis Mauigoa, OT

  • Mel Kiper Jr. has him No. 8 overall and OT1 on ESPN's Big Board. Daniel Jeremiah's newest Top 50 has him No. 10.

Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE

  • Daniel Jeremiah has Bain No. 7 overall in his updated Top 50. ESPN's Kiper lists him No. 16 overall on the Big Board (down from a previous rank of 9).

Akheem Mesidor, EDGE

  • Kiper has him No. 24 overall on ESPN's Big Board. Daniel Jeremiah has him No. 22 in his Top 50.

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