While I thought I would be in a tough decision spot regarding what hole to fill, the draft board made this as easy of a choice as you will ever find. Best player available meets need. With Baltimore having an interior offensive line that has more questions than answers, Francis Mauigoa will immediately transition to guard (as some NFL teams and scouts are already projecting) helping solidify the IOL. His Pro Day interview only reinforces his willingness to play at any spot on the OL.
Having never missed a single game over the last three years, Mauigoa possesses an elite anchor which will have defensive lineman running into a brick wall in the pass rush. His raw power and lateral quickness will make him a major asset in the downhill run game, zone blocking, or in pull block situations. This is a day one impact franchise building block getting Baltimore back to its power rushing ways while providing Lamar Jackson elite protection for years to come.
The significant upside value of this pick could come in future years. While still playing at a high level, Ronnie Stanley is 32 years old, an age where many offensive tackles start to see a decline in performance. With Stanley only being under contract thru 2027 where he will be carrying a $24M cap hit, this is the perfect insurance/transition plan in the event of a performance decline or if they need to get cheaper at a premium position. Mauigoa has the size, strength, and agility to compete at LT should that need arise due to performance issues or salary cap limitations.