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Francis Mauigoa tabbed with injury red flag ahead of NFL Draft
Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Francis Mauigoa tabbed with injury red flag ahead of NFL Draft

With the 2026 NFL Draft just a couple of weeks away, there will be no minor detail or stone unturned regarding the top prospects.

A player's draft stock can skyrocket or plummet just days after the big event, and everything matters more at this point. That's why Miami's Francis Mauigoa, tabbed as the best offensive lineman prospect in this class, will look to prove why he should be the first OT off the board.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, he'll undergo a medical recheck to clear the air on a potential back injury.

Francis Mauigoa is dealing with a back injury 

"Miami OT Francis Mauigoa, potentially the top tackle in the Draft, has decided to be at Combine Rechecks on Friday for additional imaging on a minor back issue that caused him some discomfort late in the season," Rapoport shared on X.

While Rapoport added that Mauigoa wasn't a candidate for immediate injury after consulting with several doctors and is symptom-free, teams are still curious about the true extent of the ailment. Whether this will affect his high draft stock remains to be seen. His tape is impressive, and his ability to shut down opposing pass-rushers on the right side of the line is second to none among players in this class.

That said, there are also doubts about whether he'd be better off moving to guard in the pros, given that, just like Will Campbell last season, he has short arms for a tackle. Regardless, Mauigoa could go as early as No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals, provided that he's fully healthy, and not watching him be the first offensive lineman off the board would be a massive surprise.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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