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I mean, it appears that way, but positional value and potential will always be taken into account. For me, OT (especially LT) just naturally has that time built into it. One day we'll look up and Freeling will be doing his job to great effect. Morgan and Canales were full of sh¡t a little bit, but no one's gonna care once Freeling really gets going.

And I have to assume we arent getting accurate prospect meetings info. Morgan specifically mentioned the interactions with him and how his love for the game and being the best as an influence in their decision.

This is based on a curve. He is the most pro-ready to be an LT out of the whole draft class. Yes, he'll need to refine his game, but all of the upside is there. He's going to compete right away. Two years? Nah. Utwont take him that long to become the elite LT that is in him.

Yeah I mean at the end of the day if you have a LT and S equally ranked you’re taking the LT 100/100 times

It’s an 11 month median for athletes with some as back as 7 months so it isn’t impossible to see him this year even though I agree he takes a full redshirt for 2026

Yeah? I wuz never good at math. You are right though 2,3,4,5x2,6

We have 6 more

To me it is the opposite of a luxury pick. The WR or S would have been a luxury pick. This was like a.bill that you have to use your fun money to pay. No new toy but the lights stay on.

I really like this. Now we can see how Ickey bounces back and we have an insurance policy cooking in the meantime. It’s great sign to me that some media are calling this a “luxury pick” as if there isn’t uncertainty around our LT.

I might look at it differently. Like ask myself are we SB contenders this season? And does not having this guy ready week one put us out of contention? Would taking Lemon or the S instead of Freelibg put us in contention? To me the answer to these questions is mostly no. Across the board.

That's short-sighted, doesn't count for the fact that most drafts have somewhere between 14-16 players with real first round grades, doesn't account for the fact that some positions take longer than others for prospects to adapt to the NFL, doesn't account for the low hit rate of draft picks in general including the first round.

The other reason I like the pick is this is a weak draft first round talent wise. "What I mean is actual prospects with a true first round grade, it's usually around 14-16, this draft is closer to 10-12." There probably wasn't another player on the Panthers board that any where close to a first round grade besides for Freeling.

Thieneman went 6 spots later after another OT. So that tells you something about perceived value

If he was their BPA, then he was the right pick. I just don't agree that he was BPA or would have the most impact this season.

I would have been very happy with Thieneman too and one of the receivers could have been a great addition as well. Im just happy that they value OL. Nothing is worse than OL hell we went through

Couldn't agree more and 100% well said. Not guaranteeing that Freeling will be amazing for us, but the potential ceiling he has is what you definitely want for an OT. I honestly had him 1B to Fano and am thrilled he fell all the way to us

Short-term thinking like that is how we become the Jets and browns... Most offensive tackles are not going to be very good day one of their rookie year

No. I love everything about what Freeling can become. That being said, he is still very raw and needs time to develop. It also never hurts to have depth on the oline. If freeling balls out year 1 (which is probably wishful thinking), then we start evaluating how well icky comes back and whether he moves inside or if we move on from moton. While I absolutely love this pick and am surprised he made it to 19, he definitely has a lot of work to do developmental wise

Freeling had higher grades than Thieneman most everywhere. There were a few that didnt. But we're talking OT vs safety and the team doesn't use lists made by media outlets. They make their own.

Lemon and possibly Thieneman were higher rated and at positions of need also. And... they would start or get significant playing time this season. Monroe is a high ceiling project player that likely won't start a game this season. Just hope they have plans for using him this season, even if they're unconventional roles. For the record, I don't see this as a bad pick. They have a plan for the future. But this pick is not the most impactful for 2026.

35m in dead cap space, says not likely

Any chance we trade Moton?

Joe was pushing him at 6 for Cleveland

Surprised but pleasantly so

Fluidity is his one biggest strengths.