Round 1: The Carolina Panthers select OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia)

[NAS]

He better beat out Walker in camp or this is a wasted pick

[mav1234]

2 minutes ago, NAS said:

He better beat out Walker in camp or this is a wasted pick

I don't think it's wasted even if he doesn't. If he never lived up to his potential, sure, but this wasn't a pick for this year.

[strato]

15 minutes ago, carpanfan96 said:

It sounds like I hate the pick but I don't, he just doesn't help this year's team much. If the staff can fix the technique issues, you've got a 10+ year probowl LT. Which immediately makes this a good pick because at 19 in the first, the gamble is 100% worth it. 

On the bright side of it, his inexperience could be ensuring they don’t have as much for him to do unlearn as they might with an older more experienced guy.  
But yeah the big picture is would you punt a year if you believed you could get ten quality seasons of LT? Most people would I think. 

Edited April 24 by strato

[carpanfan96]

3 minutes ago, NAS said:

He better beat out Walker in camp or this is a wasted pick

If he ends up being a probowl LT for 10 years but doesn't start this year... It's a wasted pick????

[carpanfan96]

1 minute ago, strato said:

On the bright side of it, his inexperience could be ensuring they don’t have as much for him to do unlearn as they might with an older more experienced guy.  
But yeah the big picture is would you punt a year if you believed you could get ten quality seasons of LT? Most people would I think. 

I think the Panthers have one of the best group of Oline coaches in the NFL, so I think it's more likely than not that he reaches his ceiling in Carolina. 

Which means I think they drafted a 10+ year starting probowl LT at 19th overall. Pretty good deal if you ask me. 

I said it in one of these threads, great pick for the 2027-2028 Panthers and beyond. 

[Mol3m4n]

3 hours ago, uncfan888 said:

Five straight years of the first pick being spent on offense. Two tackles, two receivers, one qb. 

All for an offense that ranks near the bottom in most stats

The roster was devoid of talent.  That's what happens. 

[DeadpoolPanther]

Not only a good pick, but good on Dan Morgan and company to do what they did during free agency to allow for a pick like this. He will def play this season he is not a bum. After that he should be a starter.

Now I would load up on defense.

[RJK]

He’ll be starting at some point this season. There’s no depth behind either tackle position and injuries are bound to happen. He’s prob the most athletic OL on the roster. 

[NAS]

14 minutes ago, carpanfan96 said:

If he ends up being a probowl LT for 10 years but doesn't start this year... It's a wasted pick????

First round picks need to be Day 1 starters unless you’re loaded and Super Bowl ready.  I am not saying he won’t develop into a great LT but we need immediate impact players.

[onmyown]

Ehh, I understand why they did it, but just really sucks to be in that spot. There was a better choice for the first round IMO, maybe he’ll surprise me but I wouldn’t bet on it. Very raw, doesn’t seem very fluid. 

[MrBubba]

 

Panthers start at 1:24:42 

[csx]

28 minutes ago, NAS said:

He better beat out Walker in camp or this is a wasted pick

Come on. Even if he became a 10 year starter for us? 

Imagine if the Packers or Chiefs were that short sighted.

[csx]

14 minutes ago, onmyown said:

Ehh, I understand why they did it, but just really sucks to be in that spot. There was a better choice for the first round IMO, maybe he’ll surprise me but I wouldn’t bet on it. Very raw, doesn’t seem very fluid. 

Fluidity is his one biggest strengths.

[PNW_PantherMan]

Surprised but pleasantly so