New York Giants rookie Francis Mauigoa shines early at guard

New York Giants rookie offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa is already making a strong impression at guard during his first practices with the team. Primarily a right tackle at the University of Miami, the 2026 first-round draft pick has drawn early praise from coaches for looking like a natural inside. Mauigoa acknowledged the significant adjustment required when moving from tackle to guard.

"That I don't have that much space to work with. Playing at tackle, you have all the space, where a guard, everything happens so fast. It’s not something I really need to work on; it’s something that I need to get used to," he said.

His smooth transition is no accident. Mauigoa credits extensive positional versatility developed under Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal. He practiced guard every year from his freshman season onward — during spring ball, summer workouts, and fall practices — and even took reps at center.

“Coach Mirabal believed in knowing all the positions. It makes sense. If you play all the positions, you make yourself valuable.