Prior to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano was the consensus top offensive line prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. However, at the combine, Fano had a short arm measurement, and Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling had an excellent workout. NFL scouts were already well aware of the length issues with Fano after seeing him in person for years at Utah, and area scouts knew that Freeling was athletic and would work out well before the draft. However, the media has been hyping Freeling, and now markets are projecting him to be the first offensive lineman drafted. I reached out to do a survey of team sources, and they were split on Fano or Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoas as the first offensive lineman to get selected next month.
Three team sources voted for Fano, and three of them voted for Mauigoa. Zero team sources voted for Freeling or other prospects like Alabama’s Kayden Proctor, Utah’s Caleb Lomu, Clemson’s Blake Miller, or Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor. Sources gave similar reasons for why they felt Fano or Mauigoa would be the first lineman drafted.
“I still think Fano,” texted an AFC director of college scouting. “He’s the cleanest, easiest [to project], the arm length debate is only a fascination between the combine and draft night in my opinion.”
“Mauigoa,” texted an NFC general manager. “Versatile, size, strength, tough as shit. He’s made for the league. He reminds me of [Brandon] Schreff. Safe, safe, safe. Played a lot of football and durable. Might be a better guard when said and done, but who cares if he’s all-pro.”
In my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, I have both Fano and Mauigoa going in the top dozen picks with the other prospects going in the back half of the first round. However, teams are split on whether Fano or Mauigoa will be the first off the board, with three voting for Fano and three voting for Mauigoa.
