In ESPN analyst Field Yates' latest two-round mock draft, two Hurricanes came off the board in the top 11, with edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. projected to the New Orleans Saints at No. 8 and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa projected to the Miami Dolphins at No. 11. He also predicted Akheem Mesidor to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15.
For a program coming off a run to the College Football Playoff national championship game, it is another sign that Miami's best players are being viewed as premier first-round talents.
Rueben Bain Jr. stays in top 10 territory
In the mock, Yates sent Bain to New Orleans and mentioned that the Saints need to add youth to their pass-rush group.
"Some evaluators are questioning whether he has the length (30 and 7/8-inch arms) to win as frequently at the NFL level, but he's a well-rounded player who had 18.5 tackles for loss and 71 pressures in 2025."Field Yates
Even with the concern of his arm length, Bain is still being treated like one of the draft's top defenders. In Yates' top-50 prospect rankings from last week, Bain checked in at No. 10 overall. Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest position rankings also have Bain as the No. 1 defensive end in the class.
Francis Mauigoa is a lock for the first round
Yates predicted Mauigoa to the Dolphins at No. 11 and mentioned that the Dolphins ranked 24th in pass block win rate and 29th in run block win rate last season. He said that Mauigoa could eventually slide in at right tackle with Austin Jackson's reworked contract set to expire after next season.
"Mauigoa is a steady, well-built pass protector with raw power and the ability to get to the second level."Field Yates
In his latest top-50 rankings, he placed Mauigoa No. 8 overall. Kiper's latest rankings have Mauigoa as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2026 class.
Mauigoa was a consensus first-team All-American in 2025, a first-team All-ACC selection and the winner of the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He started all 42 games of his career at right tackle without missing a start.
Akheem Mesidor checks in at No. 15
Yates also projected Akheem Mesidor to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15 in the first round. Mesidor, who turns 25 before the draft, is still widely considered to be a first round pick.
"He has an impressive get-off and nuance as a rusher. While he turns 25 before the draft, most view him as a top-15 player off ability alone."Akheem Mesidor
Mesidor morphed into a edge rusher at Miami after primarily being a DT at West Virginia. He probably saw his stock rise the most from Miami's CFP run this past season.