ESPN’s Field Yates gave a pair of Miami’s stars some love this week. His latest 2026 NFL first-round mock draft slots right tackle Francis Mauigoa to the New Orleans Saints at Pick No. 5 and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10.
Two Hurricanes landing inside the Top 10 of a mock draft in December does more than give talking points to NFL talk shows; the projection validates Mario Cristobal’s biggest stars. He promised a line-of-scrimmage program. Yates just recognized Miami’s bookend tackle and premier pass rusher as potential cornerstone NFL pieces.
Mauigoa comes off the board first. Yates pairs him with Tyler Shough in New Orleans and describes the three-year starter as a mauler of defenders in the run game while barely allowing a fingerprint on his quarterback Matt Miller’s ESPN big board lists Mauigoa as the top offensive lineman and No. 7 overall prospect in the draft, which matches the way scouts talk about true franchise tackles.
Bain gets in at No. 10, where Cincinnati needs heat off the edge, and Yates points straight at the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Bain has logged 57 pressures, 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss during Miami’s playoff season, numbers that barely capture how often he wrecked drives. Mel Kiper’s big board has Bain at No. 19 overall and raves about his power, hand usage and relentless motor, while Miller ranks him No. 4 in the entire class. Two separate draft analysts treating a Hurricane edge rusher like a top-20 lock speaks loudly.
The actual 2026 NFL Draft in April still sits months away, and injuries, testing numbers or surprise decisions about staying in school can jolt any board, but that caveat hardly dampens what the mock says about the state of the program.
Miami sits in the College Football Playoff, owns one of the sport’s nastiest pass rushers and protects its quarterback with a potential top-five tackle. Recruits notice, and opposing coaches notice.
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