Francis Mauigoa (stinger) leaves practice Thursday

Mauigoa’s deal will be worth roughly $31 million over four years. It also includes a fully guaranteed fifth-year team option. This leaves only Arvell Reese unsigned from the Giants’ 2026 class. Mauigoa was a career right tackle at Miami, but he’s expected to start at right guard as a rookie.

The Athletic’s Dan Duggan reports that the Giants are aware surgery “could eventually be necessary, but they don’t believe it’s a certainty.” He cites Tyler Linderbaum’s 2024 training camp — he missed most of camp but was able to play all 17 games in the regular season. Reading between the lines, we’re expecting Mauigoa’s offseason to be truncated in some way, and Duggan adds it’s possible Mauigoa gets surgery after the season if his back bothers him during his rookie year.

Despite still being just 20 years old, Mauigoa (6’6/335) is one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the class, starting 42 games across three seasons while anchoring the Hurricanes’ right tackle spot. The massive blocker steadily improved his performance each season, culminating in an 82.6 overall PFF grade in 2025 with an elite 87.0 pass-blocking mark and 77.1 run-blocking grade, showcasing a well-rounded skillset. Mauigoa allowed just 3 sacks and five hits on 1,948 pass-blocking opportunities over the last two years. His testing backs up his standout play with an 8.75 RAS with a 5.13s forty (82nd-percentile), 4.59s shuttle (88th-percentile), and solid explosion numbers (29" vertical, 8’10” broad), rare movement skills for a 335-pound tackle. He possesses heavy hands and a sturdy anchor that neutralizes bull rushers while keeping the pocket stable for his quarterback. In the run game, he flashes a finisher’s mentality, generating movement at the point of attack and using his mass and leg drive to collapse edges. While Mauigoa’s size and power profile fit conceptually at right tackle, John Harbaugh said after the pick that he will start his career at right guard. Given the draft capital spent to acquire him, Mauigoa will likely get a shot at right tackle sooner rather than later.

In a video report from earlier today, Venerable outlined a potential trade in which the Saints acquire the No. 3 overall pick from the Cardinals in exchange for the Nos. 8, 42 and 73 overall picks. He notes “no 2027 draft capital is exchanged with New Orleans,” and told viewers, “I think that’s the preference for these teams — in fact, I know it.” Per Venerable, the Cardinals “are looking to do their damage” in the draft this year, rather than next year. It sounds like Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort needs to leave the draft with meaningful personnel upgrades. Venerable notes that the Cardinals recently hosted Miami OT Francis Mauigoa (back) for a top-30 visit. He would be in play for them in this scenario. Yesterday, Venerable reported that the Cardinals have discussed a potential trade back with the Chiefs as well. He believes both the Saints and Chiefs are targeting either Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey or Ohio State LB Arvell Reese.

Mauigoa attended Combine Rechecks today to undergo additional imaging on a minor back issue that caused discomfort late last season. Per Garafolo, Mauigoa visited with teams possessing draft picks in the top third of the first round after the recheck request was made in early March. He takes this as a sign of Mauigoa’s confidence that “any concerns would be satisfied” by the recheck. It appears as though Mauigoa is all good and has a chance to be drafted early in the first round later this month.

Per Rapoport, the issue caused him some discomfort late in Miami’s run to the National Championship game, though it never cost him any time. He is not considered a candidate for offseason surgery and performed the normal battery of tests and drills at Miami’s Pro Day. Still, the fact that surgery is even being talked about has likely given some teams pause. In turn, Mauigoa will undergo imaging for a disc issue during his recheck. Mauigoa could be a top-10 pick if all goes well.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Mauigoa is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. He allowed eight sacks in three regular seasons at Miami. PFF charts him as having been beaten by a defender only five times in 2025.