OFFICIAL 2026 NFL DRAFT DAY - ROUND 1 Discussion

Draft is moving fast because teams only have 8 mins instead of 10

Man Freeling is a big boy.

So, OT is the choice.  Freeling is sort of a surprise. I thought he would be gone a little earlier...

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Still, I'm pleased.  I expected OT and that's what we did.

Monroe Freeling
Georgia
A young, ascending prospect with real work to do, but the future looks bright.


Carolina PanthersDrafted No. 19 by the Panthers

Hometown: Charleston, SC
Birthday: July 25, 2004
Age: 21.7
Jersey: No. 57
High School: Oceanside
Year: Third-year junior
A starter for one-and-a-half years at Georgia, Freeling settled in at left tackle in offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s balanced gap/zone scheme. After coming off the bench at both left and right tackle, he became a starter over the second half of the 2024 season and showed gradual improvements each game in 2025. He earned All-SEC honors as a junior, allowing just nine pressures; he committed only one holding penalty in 18 career starts.

An ascending prospect, Freeling passes the eye test with his frame, length and movements off the ball. He is quick out of his stance, regardless of what the action requires, and uses his hands to latch and control defenders. Mixing up his pass sets, redirecting vs. skilled counters and using improved leverage in the run game will be the next steps in becoming a more complete player.

Dane’s takeaway
Dane Brugler Illustration
Freeling is still very young in several areas, but the future looks bright — his athletic toolbox and technical confidence continue to develop with each rep (he’s similar in ways to Kolton Miller as a prospect). Although bumps in the road should be expected, Freeling can secure a starting job as an NFL rookie.

Strengths
Broad build, with long arms and developed bulk
Pushed himself to fill out his frame, adding 75 pounds over the past five years
Outstanding quickness and body control out of his stance to mirror up the arc
Smoothly redirects and doesn’t get crossed up vs. counters
Uses both of his big, strong hands to thud and control pass rushers
Power rushers can dent the pocket but gradually sinks and catches his balance to grind down bull rushers
Stays alert to stunts; has grown to become a willing helper, if uncovered
Generates drive power in run game to displace defenders
Efficient timing and contact balance on combos/climbs

Weaknesses
Upright in pass sets and through engagement
Rushers will out-leverage him when they reach his chest
Can be beaten by late movement once he settles his feet
Guilty of overextending himself in run game, zapping his balance transfer
Inconsistent out in space adjusting to movement
Missed most of Kentucky game (Oct. 2025) after his left ankle got rolled up on and didn’t start following week; played through shoulder injury late in 2024 season (gave up three sacks against Notre Dame) and underwent offseason shoulder surgery (Jan. 2025), which limited him for 2025 spring practices
Only one full season as a starter

Background
Monroe Freeling, the middle of three boys in his family, grew up in Oregon, with his parents. His older brother (Tristan) played college basketball at Queens (N.C.) University for two seasons (2020-22). Freeling was a multi-sport athlete, including basketball and football, throughout childhood. When he was in eighth grade, his family relocated from Oregon to Charleston, S.C., where his father, a doctor, had opened a hospital. Freeling also hit a growth spurt during eighth grade, and his mother (Brandy), a certified yoga instructor, introduced him to yoga training and meditation to help with flexibility and combating growing pains. Brandy Freeling ultimately became yoga instructor for her son’s high school football team; Monroe Freeling still uses yoga weekly as part of his training regimen.

Freeling attended Oceanside Collegiate Academy, a public charter school in Charleston (and alma mater of NFL quarterback Sam Hartman). He played primarily on JV as a freshman before a late call-up to varsity. Freeling became a full-time starter on varsity as a sophomore left tackle and helped the program capture the 2020 regional championship. As a 240-pound junior in 2021, he again started at left tackle and again helped lead Oceanside to the playoffs, while playing alongside his younger brother (Grayson), a freshman at the time. For his senior season, Freeling helped the team to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Class 2A championship game (lost to Abbeville). He also had a presence on the defensive line (22 tackles and three sacks) and earned an invitation to the All-American Bowl. Freeling lettered in basketball at Oceanside, averaging 2.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/interac...ve-tackle/



A four-star recruit, Freeling was the fifth-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 class and the No. 1 recruit in South Carolina. He was the No. 35 recruit nationally. Before he became a full-time varsity player, Freeling picked up his first scholarship offer, from his home state South Carolina, as a freshman (January 2020). Several other major programs entered the mix with offers when he was a sophomore, including Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Penn State and Virginia Tech. As a junior, Freeling narrowed down his choice to Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame or Ohio State. Prior to his senior season, he announced his commitment to Georgia. Freeling, who was recruited by offensive line coach Stacy Searles, was the fifth-ranked recruit in head coach Kirby Smart’s 2023 class.

After three seasons in Athens, he elected to skip his senior year and enter the NFL Draft.

Welcome to Charlotte!

I expected Kadyn Proctor but Freeling WAS rated a little higher and he was available...

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WOW, THAT is a lot of information LP.  Good job. Nicely done.

I just hope he turns out better than the last tackle we grabbed at 19…..

I think we all knew we needed help on the O line. So not a sexy pick but it’s probably the best pick .
There wasn’t a position we’d have been surprised to have pick .

Let’s Go Monroe

I think we all knew we needed help on the O line.  So not a sexy pick but it’s probably the best pick .
There wasn’t a position we’d have been surprised to have pick .

Let’s Go Monroe

I’m fully OK with it, I don’t know anything about him, but I honestly think OL was a bigger NEED than WR, even with Lemon on the board- with Kenyon gone, OL was obvious choice.

WOW...

If I counted right, there were five (5) OTs drafted in the Top 20...

Over/Under on Bryce hitting him in the back of the helmet?

Good pick. OT’s (good ones) are value 1st round picks with the fifth year option. And I still think we will take a second OT before the draft is over. My gut tells me Icky never plays another snap for us.

Over/Under on Bryce hitting him in the back of the helmet?

Good pick. OT’s (good ones) are value 1st round picks with the fifth year option. And I still think we will take a second OT before the draft is over. My gut tells me Icky never plays another snap for us.

Not an off gut feeling- a patella rupture/tear is a tough tough injury.  And a big guy who relies on knees it’s even tougher.  If this kid can develop into his size and measurables, he’s gonna be a serious STUD.