FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.
2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Francis Mauigoa
Francis Mauigoa (OT – Miami)
6-foot-6 | 315 Pounds
Background
Francis Mauigoa was a five-star recruit out of the IMG Academy. He started all 13 games at right tackle as a freshman and has maintained that role ever since, giving him three years of increasingly effective play at the position. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), Mauigoa was credited with five allowed sacks and 23 combined sacks + hits + hurries. Those numbers were slashed to one sack and 17 sacks + hits + hurries the following year. Through the regular season in 2025, the Miami tackle was credited with two sacks and nine sacks + hits + hurries.
Positives
A very thickly-built three-year starter at right tackle who has shown steady development over the course of his collegiate career. Effective in-line people-mover in the run game. Mauigoa understands positioning and uses his grip and lower-body strength to effectively wall off opponents and create rushing lanes. Shows impressive grip strength and work ethic to sustain blocks through the whistle. Able to chip and climb, with controlled movements and solid balance; it’s rare to see a blocker with his physical profile play within his frame as consistently as this.
Mauigoa keeps his legs going after contact to generate push. Has relatively clean pass sets with a sufficiently wide base and adequate knee-bend. Drops an easy, early anchor in pass protection, showing very impressive lower-body strength. Active with his hands and has the pop to jolt defenders on contact, knocking them off-balance and enabling pancake blocks.
Takes a cab ride to get around in pass protection and avoids oversetting to force defenders around the long way. Has the power to keep his quarterback clean even when he doesn’t get enough depth to completely square up opponents. Doesn’t panic against a strong first step and does a nice job of maintaining his composure and recovering to shove opposing rushers past the quarterback. Mauigoa works hard to get out in space in the screen game and looks better than anticipated there.
Negatives
Mauigoa’s only experience at this point has come at right tackle — eight snaps at right guard notwithstanding. Would like to see him take more snaps out of a three-point stance. Pad level tends to be a bit higher than you’d like. The blocking scheme didn’t call for him to cover a lot of range horizontally, and he looks more comfortable in phone booths.
Temperament seems more workmanlike than nasty. Need to see more consistent aggression. Lack of ideal lateral quickness may cause some teams to view him as restricted to the right side. Doesn’t always get the best depth in his kickslide and may need some help with chips when blocking against opponents rushing out of wide alignments.
Doesn’t have the most agile pivot back inside and can give up pressures on second efforts at times. Penalties have been a slight issue, with 20 over three seasons, plus three declined or offsetting.
Summary
A big, thick, experienced prospect who has the discipline, technique, work ethic, grip strength and anchor to step in right away as a starting right tackle in an in-line scheme, Mauigoa offers the consistent snap-to-snap play teams look for up front.
While Mauigoa may not be the quickest, most agile tackle prospect, he does a nice job of executing with his skillset, avoiding the issues with oversetting, lunging and waist-bending that plague some other prospects with his build. Looks like a solid bet to come off the board in the middle of the first or second round.
Projection: Round 1/Round 2
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