The Jets selected Miami LB Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa in Round 5 with the No. 162 overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft. The selection was the first draft pick ever announced from Scotland.
In four collegiate seasons at Washington State (2021-22) and Miami (2023-24), Mauigoa appeared in 51 games (39 starts) and totaled 255 tackles, 35 TFL, 13 sacks, 12 PDs, 6 FF and 3 INTs. Last season with the Canes, Mauigoa recorded a career-high 96 tackles and added 11 TFL and 6 PDs. In 2023, Mauigoa arrived in Miami and set personal bests with 18 TFL and 7.5 sacks. Mauigoa (6-2, 233) led Miami in tackles and TFL his junior and senior campaigns while wearing the green dot.
“Sideline to sideline-type dude,” Mauigoa said of his play style. “Just create turnovers — that’s the best way to win games is to create turnovers and have the offense get the ball as much as possible throughout the whole game. And fast and physical, come downhill, make tackles in the backfield and try to create chaos in the backfield.”
Raised in the American Samoa, Mauigoa attended Tafuna HS and played QB for two seasons. He and his younger brother, Francis, joined a host family in San Bernardino, CA, and Kiko played both ways at Aquinas Catholic HS. The boys returned to the American Samoa in 2020, and he played his senior season at Tafuna before he and Francis transferred to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Washington State was Mauigoa’s lone Power 5 offer and he became their 12th-ranked recruit in the 2021 class. He appeared in 25 games for Washington State from 2021-22, recording 77 tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 FF, 2 PDs and 1 INT.
The Mauigoa selection comes from Pittsburgh, which traded it to the Jets for WR Mike Williams on Nov. 5 of last season. The Steelers initially acquired the pick from the L.A. Rams.
“The Jets were one of the few organizations keeping track on me,” Mauigoa told reporters. “It’s a blessing, it’s a long time coming. But I’m glad to be part of something special, so I’m just excited.”
The Jets have used No. 162 to draft a player five previous times: Ohio FB Bob Brooks (1961, AFL) Texas DT Scott Palmer (1971), Mississippi TE Burney Veasey (1974), Northwestern State DE Jermaine Jones (1999) and Tennessee QB Erik Ainge (2000).
On the third and final day of the draft, the Jets have selected Georgia WR Arian Smith (Round 4, No. 110), traded back into the fourth round to take Alabama S Malachi Moore (No. 130) and then grabbed Mauigoa in the Round 5.