The New York Giants' 2026 NFL Draft could not be off to a better start. After allowing Arvell Reese to fall into their lap with the fifth overall pick, John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen ran with the same strategy by drafting Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 after Jordyn Tyson was sniped off the board two picks earlier.
Mauigoa is set to be the Giants' bookend right tackle of the future opposite Andrew Thomas, but they already have a right tackle... for now. They re-signed Jermaine Eleumunor earlier this offseason, but taking a mauler like this means that Eluemunor's time as Big Blue's long-term RT is already on a clock.
I would imagine that the plan is to keep the 20-year-old at right guard until they have exhausted all they have needed to out of Eluemunor at right tackle, which is then when they will move him to right tackle. And it proves that they want to keep Jaxson Dart upright and protected, which is a priority.
The New York Giants are setting themselves up for years to come in the trenches with Francis Mauigoa
Mauigoa is not a flashy pick like Caleb Downs would've been at 10, but addressing both sides of the trenches in the top 10 in Harbs' first draft is a masterstroke. It remains to be seen how Eluemunor will fare without Carmen Bricillo, so if he takes a step in the wrong direction, they already have his successor. And landing his successor because of the Dexter Lawrence deal is masterful.
The 31-year-old has still earned a leash for this season at least, but right guard is still a major need. The G-Men cannot continue trotting out Greg Van Roten or justify starting Daniel Faalale here, so even though he's not a true guard like Vega Ioane, they can play him there until Eluemunor fades out.