The Giants select Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 in the 2026 NFL Draft

The New York Giants were armed with two picks in the top 10 in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the new regime led by head coach John Harbaugh showed its focus on the trenches on both sides of the ball.

With the fifth overall pick, the Giants saw Ohio State star running back Arvell Reese fall to them and pulled the trigger, taking their third rusher in the first round since 2022.

Then, with the No. 1 overall pick. 10, the Giants had a chance to take another Buckeyes defensive star, as safety Caleb Downs fell down the draft board. But it’s clear the Giants are protecting their future, quarterback Jaxson Dart, as they go offensively with their next pick.

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Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa was called out of the NFL Draft green room in Pittsburgh as the 10th overall pick. While playing with the Hurricanes, Mauigoa is expected to move to the interior offensive line.

The Giants also signed Jermaine Eluemnor, who emerged as the team’s right tackle in 2025, during free agency. He is expected to stay in that role, but the Giants have question marks, and there is a belief that Mauigoa could step inside.

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In other mock drafts entering Thursday, Reese is expected to go second to the New York Jets. But the Jets took David Bailey out of Texas Tech instead.

From there, the Arizona Cardinals went with Jeremiah Love, making him the most selected running back since the Giants took Saquon Barkley in 2018. The Tennessee Titans went with wide receiver Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes’ first player off the board, and Reese fell into their lap.

Giants receiver Malik Nabers, who appeared in the draft next to Green Bay Packers running back Micah Parsons, questioned where Reese would play considering Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter, the team’s No. 3 pick last year, are playing a hot game.

But Harbaugh outlined a plan to make Reese an inside linebacker — a position of great need in the Giants’ defense. If that’s the plan, Reese’s athleticism, which has been on display throughout his career at Ohio State, will be tested at the NFL level.

Miami’s Francis Mauigoa celebrates after being selected 10th overall by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

As for Mauigoa, the 6-foot-5, 329-pound tackle has been viewed as one of the top offensive line prospects in this draft throughout the process.

Mauigoa was a first-team All-American selection last year on a Miami team that reached the national championship game. He started all 16 games at right tackle for the Hurricanes.

However, there was an injury question surrounding Mauigoa, as he has dealt with a back problem that may require surgery at some point in his professional career. Teams are careful in these matters, and the Giants don’t seem to be worried about signing him.

This was the tenth overall pick the Giants received after trading All-Pro defensive end Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, fulfilling his trade request amid a contract dispute.

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese takes a snap during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 23, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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Mauigoa has included himself in the Giants fans’ good deeds, saying during a draft interview, “I’ll die for you, Jaxson Dart.” It’s that kind of power that Harbaugh, Dart and the rest of the Giants are looking for on the football field.

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