It’s unclear what the New York Giants are still looking to get out of 2022 seventh-overall pick Evan Neal. His long-term outlook was settled when Joe Schoen declined his fifth-year option, and his short-term value fell off a cliff after three straight inactive listings to start the season.
Neal is on his way out of East Rutherford. Whether that’s via trade or release remains to be seen, but after failing at right tackle and again at right guard, there isn’t a case to keep him. He’s essentially wasted space on a 53-man roster that needs every inch of talent it can get.
Fortunately, Andrew Thomas looked great in his season debut against the Kansas City Chiefs after nearly a year recovering from a Lisfranc injury. Unfortunately, Big Blue has few other linemen it can trust, making the need to draft a bookend tackle to protect its newly appointed franchise quarterback, Jaxson Dart, a front-office priority. Enter Miami’s Francis Mauigoa — the potential next Penei Sewell, and FOX Sports’ early pick for Big Blue in 2026.
Giants get do-over on long-term Evan Neal replacement in 2026 mock draft
Anytime an offensive tackle gets mentioned in the same breath as Penei Sewell, you pay attention. The fifth-year Lion already has three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro nods, and might be in the middle of his best season yet. So, if Mauigoa is even sniffing that tier, the G-Men shouldn’t blink, even if past linemen have burned them.
Rang clearly sees the upside. In his 2026 NFL Mock Draft, he mocked the Miami tackle to the Giants at pick No. 6, writing:
“Mario Cristobal helped mold Penei Sewell — one of college football’s most dominant offensive linemen that I’ve seen over the past quarter-century — and Mauigoa is similarly gifted.”
Of course, he acknowledged the risk, too: “Giants fans might shudder at the idea of investing yet another draft pick on an offensive lineman (especially one hailing from the same program that Ereck Flowers attended), but scouts are enamored with Mauigoa’s upside.”
Risky or not, it adds up. The Neal experiment is donezo. Jermaine Eluemunor has been pretty solid, but he’s in a contract year and turning 31. Marcus Mbow has shown promise, but he’s nowhere near locked in as a long-term starter — yet. And while Thomas is clearly the left tackle cornerstone, his durability will always raise concerns.
Bottom line: Dart’s the franchise quarterback now, and Mauigoa could be the franchise tackle to protect him. If Mauigoa really is the next Sewell, then it’s time for Joe Schoen (or whoever's the general manager) to get it right and finally bury the Evan Neal era for good.
If Mauigoa really is the next Sewell, then it’s time for Joe Schoen to get it right and finally bury the Evan Neal era for good.