Almost a week removed from the College Football National Championship, Miami seniors and players with NFL decisions to make have been announcing their plans all week.
ESPN dropped a fresh 2026 first-round NFL Mock Draft update on Wednesday morning, and three Hurricanes were included among the 32 picks. Two of them landed inside the top ten, you can probably guess who. The third came off the board later in the first round.
3. Francis Mauigoa | Arizona Cardinals
7. Rueben Bain Jr. | Washington Commanders
20. Akheem Mesidor | Dallas Cowboys
Check out what ESPN had to say about the Hurricanes:
Francis Mauigoa: No. 3 Pick, Arizona Cardinals
Mauigoa would have just missed the chance to join his brother, linebacker Kiko Mauigoa, with the Jets, but I still have Francis as a top-three pick thanks to his mauling play style, experience (41 career starts) and overall consistency as a blocker. Since Kelvin Beachum is a free agent, Mauigoa could slide in at right tackle and help spring James Conner and Trey Benson for big runs next season. The quarterback situation is still unsettled, but no matter who is under center, the protection has to be right.
Rueben Bain: No. 7 Pick, New York Giants
NFC East quarterbacks and offensive tackles aren't going to be happy if Washington goes this way. Bain knows how to reach the quarterback, with 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2025 (including a sack and 2.5 TFLs on Monday night against Indiana in the national title game). He has a great mix of power, speed and bend, and the Commanders could move him around on the defensive line to create mismatches. Von Miller led the team with nine sacks this season, but he will turn 37 in March and isn't under contract for 2026. This is a clear need for Washington after the defense allowed 6.0 yards per play, tied for third worst in the league. By the way, this would be only the third time in the common draft era (since 1967) that multiple Miami players went in the top 10 (2004 and 1987).
Akheem Mesidor: No. 20 Pick, Dallas Cowboys
Miami lost in Monday's national championship game, but did you watch Mesidor? He had two sacks, bringing his season total to 12.5. He has been around college football for a long time, playing at West Virginia in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to Miami. Mesidor has battled injuries, but his toolbox is full. His bend, burst and power could help the Cowboys recapture some of the pass-rush juice they lost when they traded Micah Parsons in August. Mesidor can get into the backfield quickly and finish, registering 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles this past season. Taking Sonny Styles at No. 12 then Mesidor here would help that Dallas defense in a big way -- but Jerry Jones would have to figure out the secondary on Day 2 or in free agency. That's yet another hole on that side of the ball.
