The [New York Giants](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/new-york-giants) think they have a franchise quarterback. It's how they were able to lure in head coach John Harbaugh and why the fanbase has suddenly grown optimistic.
Armed with a talented defense, a superstar receiver, and (hopefully) a competent coaching staff, New York should feel good about its trajectory. But the work isn't done this offseason. If Jaxson Dart is the franchise quarterback that Giants fans think he is, then the competitive window has opened, making an optimized offense and a need for star power that much more important.
With the fifth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, New York has the ammo to make one more splash this spring. Given the current roster construction and the strengths of this class, adding to Dart's supporting cast is imperative, and an increasingly likely option at No. 5.
Making the case for Francis Mauigoa
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For the first time in seemingly forever, the Giants felt good about their offensive line. It was an average-to-above-average unit that did enough to keep Dart upright -- at least behind the line of scrimmage.
However, it's important not to rest on one's laurels, especially given the possibility of the unit giving back its 2025 gains and what that might mean for an impressionable young quarterback.
Dart wasn't pressured a ton as a rookie, but when it came, things often got ugly. He had the fifth-highest pressure-to-sack rate in the league and often resorted to out-of-structure playmaking that isn't necessarily sustainable. It worked out a lot when his athleticism took defenses by surprise. What happens when he's under duress more often?
New York hoped to insulate its unit by drafting Marcus Mbow last year. He seems likely to at least be a swing tackle in 2026, and he may contribute as a guard at some point. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor re-signed early in free agency, too, filling the right tackle spot while also providing positional versatility.
Two things remain true: the Giants cannot bank on left tackle Andrew Thomas being healthy for a full season, and the current interior lineman situation (Daniel Faalele, John Michael Schmitz, and Jon Runyan) leaves much to be desired.
Enter Miami Hurricanes lineman Francis Mauigoa.
Mauigoa began the year as a potential blue-chip lineman and is one of the few tackles who didn't lose ground this fall. As the right tackle for a championship contender, he stood out in the run game with starter-level athleticism and power. His 19th-percentile arm length might push him inside to guard, but that doesn't take him out of consideration for New York.
Perhaps the Giants are skittish about taking an interior lineman with a top-10 pick. I wouldn't blame them! But this class lends itself to untraditional selections early on.
New York has little need for the handful of edge rushers projected to go early on Day 1. It's obviously not considering a quarterback, and taking another top-five running back in Jeremiyah Love might be enough to waste Harbaugh's goodwill. Ohio State stars, linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs, also play lower-value positions, and the Giants have plenty of resources locked into those spots.
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Carnell Tate makes sense, but taking a receiver destined to be a secondary option (when Nabers is healthy) limits his surplus value, too. Quickly, the Giants could find themselves running out of good-process options.
Mauigoa could reasonably start at right tackle or right guard from the jump, allowing New York to get more creative with its offensive line and insulate the passing offense. Three high-level tackles and another starting option create a surplus bound to pay dividends, and even without an injury, it would upgrade the interior.
As far as prospect pedigree goes, Mauigoa has multiple years of quality production at an ACC school and checks every box besides arm length. He's a quality athlete, a fairly polished technician, and a tackle whose best days in pass protection are likely ahead of him. That's a worthy top-10 selection in most classes, much less one without a blue-chip non-quarterback.
Building a sustainable path to success begins with Dart and is perpetuated by giving him the tools necessary to be at his best. By ensuring the offensive line remains one of the league's better units, New York can give its young passer the best chance to make the leap in Year 2.
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