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

[mrcompletely11]

8 minutes ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

How does a physical unicorn get skipped over by 4 different GM’s who drafted OT? Usually those players fly up the draft boards in the last few months.. Its because his film in real pass drop situations that actually translates to the NFL leaves a lot to be desired.. Yes, he can be great based off his potential, but that’s all projection. That’s not the player he is now. I remember drafting a WR based off “potential and projection” 2 years ago. How’s he doing? 

Because those gms need guys that can play right away.  Morgan has the luxury of slow playing this if needed

[csx]

11 minutes ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

How does a physical unicorn get skipped over by 4 different GM’s who drafted OT? Usually those players fly up the draft boards in the last few months.. Its because his film in real pass drop situations that actually translates to the NFL leaves a lot to be desired.. Yes, he can be great based off his potential, but that’s all projection. That’s not the player he is now. I remember drafting a WR based off “potential and projection” 2 years ago. How’s he doing? 

Lack of experience.

[Killah_Ray]

33 minutes ago, thennek said:

The only way the Panthers offense can be 'average' is if they run the football.  They need big, athletic lineman to be able to do this.  Bryce is not a 'Cam QB' that can take over a game and clearly has physical limitations.  That is why they went out and got two mauling guards and paid a huge price for them.  Moton is aging and has had some knee issues.  Ickey will probably never play LT again.  This was a solid pick.  Can you imagine 2015 Cam with this O-Line?  

 

I think about if Cam was afforded the same weapons as Bryce, the potential dynasty we could’ve had would’ve been amazing. 

[hepcat]

The more I think about this pick the more I like it. The Icky injury might end up being a blessing in disguise for everyone except Icky unfortunately. If Freeling pans out at LT the Panthers have a good player on a rookie contract at a premium position at a time when they’re going to need to potentially pay Bryce for his next contract. Icky was likely going to command a big salary jump for his next contract and now, there’s a strong justification he’s not going to be worth a big money extension until he rehabs and proves he can still play at a high level. Since he’s finishing his rookie deal this season, it will be interesting to see if the Panthers bring him back for the 2027 season. Obviously it’s too early to say and they will probably wait to see how the season pans out with Moton still elite but aging and clearly battling persistent injuries, and they need to see if Freeling can develop into a starter during his rookie year. But ultimately this might have opened up a huge chunk of salary cap for the next 4-5 years. 

[MHS831]

49 minutes ago, CPF4LIFE said:

So me asking a question is complaining? Fair enough, I forgot how sensitive you are. 

I understand the concerns--he is not P. Sewell or Joe Thomas.  He has technique issues and was not great in the run game and was good in pass protection when UGA did not pass much.  Then there is the immediate need vs long term need perspective.  

I did not see Freeland being there-frankly. Here is why:   He has nearly 35" arms and his hands are large (10.5").  He ran a 4.93 40 at the combine.  He is very agile.  His vertical was 33.5".   Physically, he is a freak.

He is 21 and he seems very intelligent (coachable). You have to remember, some of these rookies are 24, 25 years old. Freeling is A team player.  His shortcomings are fixable.  Short arms (as with the kids from Utah and Miami) are not fixable. 

The Run on OTs began at #9:

• Fano (picked 10 picks earlier) has 32" arms and his hands are 9".  He did not play in the SEC like Freeling.  Many think the short arms project him to guard.
• Mauigoa (picked 10th) has 33" arms.  He is a solid player, but his arms make him borderline as a T (they seek 34" and up as ideal) 
• Kayden Proctor (picked 12th overall) struggled in pass protection and projects by many to RT or G.  Weight management is a concern.

So it is possible that Freeling will be the first LT taken who actually plays LT.  (he also has the ability and experience to play RT)  His questions are fixable and not limited to physical limitations.  Here is the question:  If you know that you need a Tackle, and you could choose between all four of these players, who would you pick?

I am not sure that Freeling would not be the player I selected if given the opportunity to take any of them.

[jb2288]

1 hour ago, OldhamA said:

Oh he absolutely is. He'll get murdered with his current technique in the NFL.

Scouts seem to disagree with you 

[MHS831]

Folks, if your best argument is to cherry pick attributes of Freeling and compare him to a person who had similar attributes (not all, just the cherry-picked attributes) who struggled or busted, an isolate incident, then that is a dumb argument.  The work ethic and mental approach to football is critically important.  Every player is unique.  If you mention a similar player who busted, are you suggesting that there are not similar players who were successful?  Make sense.

[Butterflyj30]

I love his call and he says "Love Ya" at the end 

 

(6) Carolina Panthers on X: "Carolinas calling #NFLDraft | @budlight https://t.co/2VcmkaF06D" / X

[Cavscout]

I think this pick shows that maybe the team knows more about Icky's injury than they are telling. His knee may be cooked.

[MHS831]

3 minutes ago, jb2288 said:

Scouts seem to disagree with you 

I 'd rather have a 21-year old with questionable technique issues than a 23-year old player with limited physical attributes.  Most OTs have mechanical issues when they enter the league.  The three tackles drafted before Freeling at #9, #10, and #12 have mechanical issues as well--but they are not the athlete and they lack the physical attributes Freeling has.  In four years, Freeling will be 25 and elite, in my view.  In four years, the others drafted before Freeling might easily be guards.

[CPF4LIFE]

10 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I understand the concerns--he is not P. Sewell or Joe Thomas.  He has technique issues and was not great in the run game and was good in pass protection when UGA did not pass much.  Then there is the immediate need vs long term need perspective.  

I did not see Freeland being there-frankly. Here is why:   He has nearly 35" arms and his hands are large (10.5").  He ran a 4.93 40 at the combine.  He is very agile.  His vertical was 33.5".   Physically, he is a freak.

He is 21 and he seems very intelligent (coachable). You have to remember, some of these rookies are 24, 25 years old. Freeling is A team player.  His shortcomings are fixable.  Short arms (as with the kids from Utah and Miami) are not fixable. 

The Run on OTs began at #9:

• Fano (picked 10 picks earlier) has 32" arms and his hands are 9".  He did not play in the SEC like Freeling.  Many think the short arms project him to guard.
• Mauigoa (picked 10th) has 33" arms.  He is a solid player, but his arms make him borderline as a T (they seek 34" and up as ideal) 
• Kayden Proctor (picked 12th overall) struggled in pass protection and projects by many to RT or G.  Weight management is a concern.

So it is possible that Freeling will be the first LT taken who actually plays LT.  (he also has the ability and experience to play RT)  His questions are fixable and not limited to physical limitations.  Here is the question:  If you know that you need a Tackle, and you could choose between all four of these players, who would you pick?

I am not sure that Freeling would not be the player I selected if given the opportunity to take any of them.

Maugioa was probably my favorite after what I saw.  Watching freeling I immediately saw the flaws and didn't think it was worth taking over an immediate starter.

[MHS831]

1 minute ago, Cavscout said:

I think this pick shows that maybe the team knows more about Icky's injury than they are telling. His knee may be cooked.

Or Moton's.

[MHS831]

Just now, CPF4LIFE said:

Maugioa was probably my favorite after what I saw.  Watching freeling I immediately saw the flaws and didn't think it was worth taking over an immediate starter.

I see that.   I have the same concerns.  Maugioa is a beast--the second best OL in the draft.  Is he the best OT?  I read articles about him being moved inside (and the Utah OT is a RT or Guard)--Proctor has some issues as well--If you recall, I wrote about the flaws of the OTs at the top of the draft, which is why I assumed we were not drafting OT in round 1, especially after signing Walker.  So I get it.  However, as a freak and considering his age, maybe he develops quickly and our OL guru can bring him along.  I have a feeling he will be thrown into the fire before he realizes it.

[electro's horse]

Year four of still affordable “franchise” qb is definitely when you draft swing tackles that won’t be able to start the first year. The panthers are technically in win now mode  

I’m a UGA fan. He’ll be fine but he’s not ready. This feels panicky to me.