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

[electro's horse]

3 minutes ago, MechaZain said:

How is any of this “win now mode”? We’re not even sold on the QB and head coach long term but need to draft immediate starters? Make it make sense.

In theory year three of a head coach with a qb still essentially on his rookie deal the year after making the playoffs is when a team is poised from a talent and financial position to make a big run.

Obviously, Canales runs the weakest offense in the nfl, Bryce is Bryce, and their playoff was the reward for their lose and get in game

Plus he’s not even starting unless something unforeseen happens

Draft lineman all day, draft UGA players all day, it’s fine. He’ll be a good nfl player. But this team needed an impact day one first round nfl defensive starter, and they got a developmental tackle. 

[Sup]

15 minutes ago, electro's horse said:

At fuging Georgia dude, come on.

they run the ball 45 times a game. 

It doesn't matter how much they run. Pressure rate is pressures/pass attempts.

[csx]

3 minutes ago, electro's horse said:

In theory year three of a head coach with a qb still essentially on his rookie deal the year after making the playoffs is when a team is poised from a talent and financial position to make a big run.

Obviously, Canales runs the weakest offense in the nfl, Bryce is Bryce, and their playoff was the reward for their lose and get in game

Plus he’s not even starting unless something unforeseen happens

Draft lineman all day, draft UGA players all day, it’s fine. He’ll be a good nfl player. But this team needed an impact day one first round nfl defensive starter, and they got a developmental tackle. 

Right......we desperately needed a day 1 defensive starter when 90% of the world expected a WR or TE.

[pdub0702]

Regardless if Bryce works out of not…it’s NEVER a bad idea to draft a left tackle. Good pick. Feed that line! 

[firefox1234]

21 minutes ago, frankw said:

This clearly shows that Dan Morgan to his credit knows that the OL salary we are sitting on is completely unsustainable. Going forward OL and DL need to be addressed each draft.

Sir. Are you implying that Morgan knows about building a professional football team, while most people here can barely assemble a decent fantasy football roster?

[The Huddler]

10 hours ago, flagfootballcoach28 said:

When a 6'7 mountain of a man can't start as a freshman or a sophomore, that's a red flag. Usually there's a reason why.. 

 

He played at UGA.. You can argue that their coaching and nutrition program is better than most NFL programs.

His technique is a mess. He lunges way too much. Not overly physical. Had a 62 run blocking score vs college competition..His strength is pass blocking, but how often were pass rushers allowed to pin their ears back against that UGA run-heavy offense?? What elite pass rusher did he ever face? His reps vs Kendrick Faulk were underwhelming. It's on YouTube. He had only 113 "true pass blocking" reps, which exclude quick screens and throws under 2 seconds. He was  30th in the nation. But even in those 113 reps, the defender had to be aware of the run much more than they usually would since they were playing UGA. He was hidden by UGA's offense. The more I think about it, I'll be surprised if this kid ever starts a complete 17-game season for us. He has so much to overcome. 

i dont know anything about his tape but i do know that many of these kids show up to campus as literal children and they grow and develop into his body.  he put on 75 pounds apparently to get to where he is.  To say a fresh 17/18 year old not starting right away at a place like georgia where every player is a stud is a pretty goofy take. He was tall but not a mountain as a man when he showed up. He worked to get to where he is and kept his athleticism as he put on mass and strength   

[shaqattaq]

2 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I did not think they would do it--with Walker and Moton and Dave Canales comments about seeing the field immediately. There could be something we do not know, but this also has the potential to make us better at 2 spots--Ickey was average at best--could be an elite G.  Freeling can become an elite LT.  If we get cap room by releasing Hunt in 2027, move Ickey to RG....we got 2 positions covered as we become more cost effective--I get it.  I just did not think they would do it. 

I already posted this, but cutting Lewis saves us $13M with only $3.7M dead money. Cutting him seems like a foregone decision, IMO. Plus, it would keep Ickey on his natural left side.

[electro's horse]

Just now, Sup said:

It doesn't matter how much they run. Pressure rate is pressures/pass attempts.

Yeah but bro how many Georgia games do you watch a year? I’m not trying to be dismissive or whatever, I’m seriously asking. 

Kirby Smart Murder Ball is running it until the other team is dead then throw off play action. That stat is very misleading.

also who’s the best pass rusher he went up against this season that got drafted in the first round? I guess just glancing at it would have been that kid from auburn which….ok

[electro's horse]

1 minute ago, The Huddler said:

i dont know anything about his tape but i do know that many of these kids show up to campus as literal children and they grow and develop into his body.  he put on 75 pounds apparently to get to where he is.  To say a fresh 17/18 year old not starting right away at a place like georgia where every player is a stud is a pretty goofy take. He was tall but not a mountain as a man when he showed up. He worked to get to where he is and kept his athleticism as he put on mass and strength   

Yeah no freshman offensive lineman is starting at UGA. Thats not a hit on him. 

[MHS831]

RIGHT NOW?  He has work to do.  If anyone would like to explain how any other lineman in this draft has a higher ceiling, I am all ears.

I remember when we drafted Gross.  He was not ready for LT, so we played him at RT.  I recall Peppers eating him alive in practices.  I recall thinking, "We drafted a bust from Utah."  

He too had a high ceiling.  First rounders get five year deals (in theory)  If years 2-5 are elite as opposed to years 1-5 being average, give me the slow rookie season.  

If you are relying on rookies to take you to the promise land, you ain't going to the promise land.  I see Freeling playing a lot this year, one way or another.

[electro's horse]

Granted this is a Very Hot Take but this is the reaction from Reddit’s UGA board

We’re used to having 3-4 first round picks, sometimes more, especially on defense. If Freeling truly was our best player on the roster, which clearly the NFL feels is the case. I think it makes sense we only got as far as we did. And I think maybe even shows how good of a coaching job Kirby Smart and his staff did last year. He turned a team where the best player on the field was a turnstile and turned them into conference champions and had an 11 win regular season. That’s very difficult to do this day and age.

[Navy_football]

If Metchie can finally get back to his pre-draft level.

If Jimmy Horn can finally get on the field.

If Jonathan Brooks can finally stay healthy.

If JaTavion Sanders can finally stay healthy and get back to his early rookie level.

Then we'd finally have NFL level offensive weapons. Lot of Ifs. Still 6 more picks though. Can't get complacent about the lack of explosive playmakers on O. The only one we've kind of had for the last 3 years was lost in free agency (Rico). 

[shaqattaq]

2 hours ago, jfra78 said:

Maybe they excite me in rd2

[Panthering]

I really think that this pick makes so much sense for us. It's a boring but necessary one. Moton nearing the end and Ickey out with a really bad injury kind of forced us here.