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Round 4 - The Carolina Panthers Select Chandler Zavala - G - North Carolina State
By
rodeo,
in Carolina Panthers
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I worry about the OT situation, but I do not expect to see them invest a first rounder after signing a starter until they get information about Ickey. I see drafting Moton's depth, but not if you reach in round 1 to do it. WR? I am not happy with them either--the best WR in the draft was the second best WR on his team and the second best was a slot. Edge? Deep in this draft. Want to build your future? Take advantage of the deep talent pool at edge. LB? I love the expected day 2 collection. C? The draft is deep and round 3 and after is when to shop. Yes, we need a tackle and when we know more, we can be more strategic. IMO -
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It is simple if you focus only on OT. But there is the cap, talent levels that differ from year to year, and team needs that fluctuate, as you know. While I would be happy with an OT and understand it, I am not sold on OT as the answer. I agree that the game is won or lost in the trenches, but I do not think over-drafting with the first round pick is the only way of addressing it--especially if it may be a year before you know what you have or reap the rewards. We both agree that you have to stay ahead of it. Just because you take a T in round 1 does not mean that you have met the need. Teams need qbs too, but drafting them too early in round one is usually disastrous A few weeks ago, I was high on Freeling. I still am (cautiously), but there are reasons to approach some of these tackles with a "Buyer Beware" approach. Again, I am not against drafting an OT in round 1, but not if that OT has a late first or second-round grade. That is not good value. On top of that, put him in the garage for a year? Take Freeling, for example. Some project him to Cleveland at 6. Really? He is a fringe first rounder, IMO. IF you want to give away draft capital to get a non-starter, that is how GMs get fired. First, we can address Freeling’s seemingly massive improvement in pass protection. He did earn an outstanding 86.1 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025, which ranked seventh among qualified FBS tackles. That was an improvement over his 65.3 mark in 2024. Georgia’s passing game was heavily built on play action and screens, which allowed Freeling to partake in just 95 true pass sets all season. That ranked just barely among the top 200 tackles in the country. Freeling earned a solid 75.4 PFF pass-blocking grade on those true pass set reps, but that pales in comparison to top tackles in the class, such as Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano. Mauigoa earned his 85.8 true PFF pass-blocking grade, second best in the nation, across 212 such reps, more than twice as many as Freeling. What about Freeling's run blocking? 61.3--which is slightly above all tackles in the country. So if you draft Freeling in round 1, you are getting a guy whose numbers were padded by play action and screens--but in pure passing sets and in run blocking, he was average when compared to every tackle in the country. Elite? Buyer beware. Lomu? Athletic, Can struggle in the run game and against power rushers. Late first rounder-early second, imo. Arms less than 34", which could scare some teams. Proctor? Can play high and the weight could be a problem he fights. Personally, I see him as the best option for an immediate starter but his ceiling is lower. I realize all players have areas of concern, but I think you will see some of these OTs drop on draft day, with good reason. Fano? 32 inch arms may kick him inside to G. You will respond that all OTs have question marks, and they do--but not researching the situation is not the answer. Freeling is a stud athlete, and despite the stats, I like him, but not as depth at 19. Proctor? I get it if you needed your starter now, and speed rushers give him fits. To adjust, his angle to block a 9 tech is nearly 90 degrees when it needs to be closer to 45 degrees. That decreases the pocket, and a short QB can't have that.
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