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Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants looks on during warmups before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
When addressing the New York Giants‘ biggest needs heading into the 2026 offseason, wide receiver certainly jumps out as one of the top priorities.
Budding star wide receiver Malik Nabers’ recovery timeline is murky at best, and it remains unclear if he’ll be ready to go by the time Week 1 rolls around.
New York’s leading receiver from this past season, Wan’Dale Robinson, is set to test unrestricted free agency, and it’s entirely possible he prices himself out of the Giants range.
That’s why you’ve seen so many mock drafts for the Giants targeting wide receivers with the fifth overall pick, landing players such as Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordan Tyson.
But they have another pressing need on their offense, and it could benefit second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart more than another pass-catching option.
Giants Mock Draft Lands Miami OL Francis Mauigoa
In Connor Rogers’ latest mock draft from NBC Sports, he projects the New York Giants to select Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, adding a long-term solution to New York’s trenches.
“Whether it be at right tackle (where he’s started the last three seasons) or guard, Mauigoa puts more help in front of Jaxson Dart. His play strength and anchor stood out in 2025, where his improvement in pass protection was notable,” wrote Rogers.
“Wide receiver could be in play here for the Giants, but if they bring back Wan’Dale Robinson they can address that position later in the draft.”
While the threat of not having enough weapons for Dart looms large over New York, their patchwork offensive line could be even more dangerous for their hopeful franchise quarterback.
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is set to depart in free agency, and is another player that could be out of the Giants’ price range thanks to their roughly $7 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.
Veteran guard Greg Van Roten was solid this past season, but at age 35, can he really be counted on to stay healthy and productive for another full season?
Enter Mauigoa, a player who could fill either the guard or tackle spot for the Giants as he enters his NFL career.
Rogers noted that he mostly played right tackle in college, but John Harbaugh’s coaching staff could decide he projects better on the interior in the pros, similar to Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Daniel Faalele.
Either way, it fills a massive need for New York and would be a home run of a pick.
How Does Francis Mauigoa Rank on ESPN’s Big Board?
Not only would the New York Giants be solving at least one major hole on their offense, but they would be landing arguably the best offensive lineman in the entire class.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has Mauigoa rated as the 10th-highest prospect in the entire 2026 class, and his overall No. 1 offensive lineman.
“Here’s a true mauler. Mauigoa is fun to watch for the way he just destroys pass rushers at the point of attack. He had more than 2,700 snaps at right tackle and has the pass protection skill to stick there, but he could absolutely slide inside and become a Pro Bowl-caliber guard at the next level. Mauigoa allowed two sacks and blew only 13 run blocks since the start of the 2024 season,” Kiper said about the Miami prospect.
If the Giants don’t go wide receiver in the first round, they’d be hard-pressed to pass on a hopeful staple on their offensive line for the next decade.
There’s always the option that they could turn to the defensive side of the ball, but if they want to prioritize Dart’s development, offense is the way to go.
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