The Lions Need to Stop Playing Games and Draft Francis Mauigoa
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and somehow this offseason has flown by faster than a Matt Patricia timeout. Usually we’re dragging ourselves through months of “what if” scenarios, but here we are, staring down another draft after watching this team take a step back in 2025.
Missing the playoffs after back-to-back postseason appearances? That stings. And yes, I know what you’re thinking: here we go again with the Lions finding new ways to disappoint us.
But this time feels different, and it starts with fixing the offensive line. The foundation that Dan Campbell built his entire philosophy on cracked last season, and it showed. The moves this offseason tell you everything: Graham Glasgow got cut, Taylor Decker got released after contract talks went nowhere, and suddenly we’re talking about Cade Mays and Larry Borom as our big upgrades.
That’s not exactly inspiring confidence. Which brings us to Francis Mauigoa.
Why Mauigoa is the Real Deal
If you want to know what kind of person Francis Mauigoa is, start with where he came from. Growing up in American Samoa, specifically in a place called ‘Ili’Ili, this kid learned to make something out of nothing. Players were using cut-up slippers as thigh pads and sharing mouthpieces because there weren’t enough to go around.
Most kids would complain. Mauigoa saw a problem he wanted to fix for the next generation.
At Miami, he didn’t just talk about giving back. He and his brother ran a merchandise campaign and donated every penny to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. He attended leadership seminars while other prospects were focused solely on combine prep. The kid gets it.
“Everything is up to you,” Mauigoa said after learning about life as a professional. That’s the mindset Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell want walking into Allen Park every morning.
The Perfect Fit for What Campbell Wants
Here’s where it gets interesting from a scheme perspective. Mauigoa played right tackle his entire career at Miami, which gives the Lions options they haven’t had in years. Dan Campbell has already said he’d like to move Penei Sewell back to left tackle, his natural position from Oregon.
That would put Mauigoa at right tackle, where he belongs. Problem solved, lineup upgraded.
The tape backs it up too. Mauigoa’s pass blocking improved every single year at Miami. His PFF grade jumped from 64.8 as a freshman to 87.0 in his final season. He went from allowing 23 pressures and five sacks to just 15 pressures and two sacks.
At 6-foot-5 and 329 pounds, he’s got the size to handle NFL edge rushers and the technique to match. His hand placement keeps defenders guessing, and he knows how to use his frame to control the pocket. Plus, the Lions love getting creative with their tackles, and Mauigoa has already shown he can catch passes out of the backfield.
You know what that means in this offense.
The Red Flags (Because There Always Are Some)
Let’s not pretend this is a slam dunk. Mauigoa had bilateral shoulder surgery after his freshman year, which sounds exactly like the kind of thing that would come back to haunt us in year three. He also had some back issues late in the 2025 season, though recent medical checks came back clean.
Brad Holmes does love a good injury story, so maybe that doesn’t scare him. It should scare the rest of us who remember what happened with Frank Ragnow’s toe.
His run blocking is the bigger concern. The grades were all over the place during his college career, and this is a Lions offense built on wearing down defenses with the ground game. If you can’t move people in the running game, Dan Campbell will find someone who can.
Some scouts also question his arm length, though we heard the same complaints about Aidan Hutchinson and that worked out fine. Still, there are whispers he might be better suited for guard, which would be a hell of a consolation prize but doesn’t solve the tackle problem.
Why the Lions Should Pull the Trigger
Here’s the thing: Mauigoa is the best tackle in this draft class. His stock has actually dropped a bit since the combine season, with other prospects like Kadyn Proctor and Monroe Freeling getting more buzz after strong workouts.
That might be exactly what the Lions need.
A few months ago, Mauigoa was a lock for the top 10. Now there’s a real chance he’s sitting there at pick 17, wondering why teams are overthinking this. The possibility of skill position players like Jeremiyah Love or quarterback Ty Simpson going earlier than expected could push Mauigoa right into Detroit’s lap.
Campbell and Holmes shouldn’t wait to find out. If Mauigoa is there in the teens, trade up a few spots and make sure he ends up in Honolulu Blue. This offensive line needs an instant starter who can protect our quarterback and open holes for our running backs.
More than that, this team needs players with the kind of character and work ethic that Mauigoa brings. The kid figured out how to excel with cut-up slippers for pads. Imagine what he can do with actual NFL equipment and coaching.
The Lions have spent years building a foundation on both sides of the line. Don’t let tackle become the weak spot that brings it all down. Draft Francis Mauigoa and give this offense the protection it deserves.
Think Mauigoa is the missing piece for this offensive line or just another draft reach waiting to happen? Let’s hear it in the comments below.
