The Cardinals are positioned to be one of the most influential teams in the 2026 NFL Draft, but with questions still lingering on either side of the ball, building from the interior outward -- although boring to the public -- is usually a good way to establish a foundation.
Arizona has struggled to establish consistent protection and push at the line of scrimmage, particularly against top-tier defensive fronts, and they need a ballplayer to raise the floor of the offense while providing a long-term solution along the front five.
With that, let's dive into the tape of Miami OL Francis Mauigoa, one of the elite offensive linemen in the upcoming class.
Miami OT Francis Mauigoa 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes:
Height: 6060 (verified)
Weight: 329 (verified)
Recruiting: No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. Consensus five-star.
Positives:
- Prototype NFL right tackle build with elite length, mass, and proportional strength.
- Outstanding anchor in pass protection. Rarely gives ground against power rushers and consistently re-sets the pocket depth.
- Heavy hands with strong initial punch. Can stun defenders at first contact and control reps early.
- Advanced footwork for a player of his size. Maintains balance and spacing against speed-to-power rushers.
- Dominant run blocker when down-blocking and on double teams. Generates movement at the point of attack.
- Highly competitive finisher. Plays with a mean streak and looks to staple defenders to the turf.
Mauigoa is exactly the type of offensive tackle prospect teams draft early on night one. His combination of size, power, and technical nuance gives him a high floor as an NFL starter, and for Arizona, he would immediately stabilize the offensive line and serve as a foundational piece protecting whomever is the long term piece under center.
Negatives:
- Lateral agility is good, not elite. Can be stressed by wide-nine alignments (outside the TE) and speed rushers with a clean runway.
- Occasionally oversets in pass protection, opening up inside counters.
- Pad level can rise late in reps, especially when fatigued.
- Primarily a right tackle projection at this stage. Some teams may question long-term left tackle upside.
Most of Mauigoa’s concerns are technical and correctable rather than physical. With refinement, his consistency against elite speed rushers should improve. His skill set also fits cleanly in both gap and zone-heavy run schemes.
Francis Mauigoa NFL Player Comparison: Patrick Paul
The comparison is rooted in body type, anchor, and alignment versatility rather than identical play style. Like Paul at times, Mauigoa can overwhelm defenders with his ability to sit and slide, consistently winning the leverage battle up front. Paul entered the league with a bit more natural bend and flexibility in his lower half, while Mauigoa offers a higher level physical profile as a run blocker.
Francis Mauigoa NFL Draft Grade: Top-10 Selection
Offensive linemen with Mauigoa’s pedigree, size, and functional power simply don't last long on draft night. For a Cardinals roster that is desperate for long-term offensive stability, Mauigoa would be a plug-and-play starter from Day 1.