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

[imminent rogaine]

Batting .1000

[pantherclaw]

3 minutes ago, bobcat91 said:

Because he isnt beating out Walker

Poo poo Bobby boy. Poo poo. 

[tukafan21]

2 minutes ago, jb2288 said:

I don't know about that. He only has 17 college starts. It isn't an automatic bad pick if he doesn't start Y1

We have 17 games without our LT and we signed someone who should have been at worst an adequate starter this year.

Not a fan of using this pick on someone who will start down the line for us when we could have taken a week 1 impact player like Thieneman.

I’ve said it since Ickey went down, a starting LT was my #1 want in the first, but if they weren’t a week 1 starter, I didn’t think the value would be there for it to be a smart pick.

[raleigh-panther]

 

Freeling from the Beast

 

A young, ascending prospect with real work to do, but the future looks bright.

Strengths

• Broad build, with long arms and developed bulk
• Pushed himself to fill out his frame, adding 75 pounds over the past five years
• Outstanding quickness and body control out of his stance to mirror up the arc
• Smoothly redirects and doesn’t get crossed up vs. counters
• Uses both of his big, strong hands to thud and control pass rushers
• Power rushers can dent the pocket but gradually sinks and catches his balance to grind down bull rushers
• Stays alert to stunts; has grown to become a willing helper, if uncovered
• Generates drive power in run game to displace defenders
• Efficient timing and contact balance on combos/climbs

Weaknesses

• Upright in pass sets and through engagement
• Rushers will out-leverage him when they reach his chest
• Can be beaten by late movement once he settles his feet
• Guilty of overextending himself in run game, zapping his balance transfer
• Inconsistent out in space adjusting to movement
• Missed most of Kentucky game (Oct. 2025) after his left ankle got rolled up on and didn’t start following week; played through shoulder injury late in 2024 season (gave up three sacks against Notre Dame) and underwent offseason shoulder surgery (Jan. 2025), which limited him for 2025 spring practices
• Only one full season as a starter

 

 

Overview

• Hometown: Charleston, SC
• Birthday: July 25, 2004
• Age: 21.7
• Jersey: No. 57
• High School: Oceanside
• Year: Third-year junior

A starter for one-and-a-half years at Georgia, Freeling settled in at left tackle in offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s balanced gap/zone scheme. After coming off the bench at both left and right tackle, he became a starter over the second half of the 2024 season and showed gradual improvements each game in 2025. He earned All-SEC honors as a junior, allowing just nine pressures; he committed only one holding penalty in 18 career starts.

An ascending prospect, Freeling passes the eye test with his frame, length and movements off the ball. He is quick out of his stance, regardless of what the action requires, and uses his hands to latch and control defenders. Mixing up his pass sets, redirecting vs. skilled counters and using improved leverage in the run game will be the next steps in becoming a more complete player.

Dane’s takeaway

Freeling is still very young in several areas, but the future looks bright — his athletic toolbox and technical confidence continue to develop with each rep (he’s similar in ways to Kolton Miller as a prospect). Although bumps in the road should be expected, Freeling can secure a starting job as an NFL rookie.

Film breakdown

Here’s everything you need to know about Monroe Freeling in Beast Breakdowns, a film breakdown partnership with our colleagues at “The Athletic Football Show.”

Muted

 0:07 / 2:15

 

 

[Gipetto]

The game is won in the trenches

[GarthMcGrath]

Love it! Get that Georgia tackle. Which reminds me, which pick do the Falcons have again tonight?

[frankw]

5 minutes ago, bobcat91 said:

Because he isnt beating out Walker

I honestly think Panthers fans are going to have a pretty brief honeymoon period with Walker. Packers let him walk for a reason.

[Shocker]

I fuggin hate this pick.  He will be a complete bust.  

[SOJA]

OT is a MAJOR need and let's all be honest, Ickey, even before the injury has been up and down. 

 

Freeling has All Pro potential. if he had gone back to UGA he's probably a top 5 pick. this is an EXCELLENT pick. He can even take a redshirt year this year 

[HPPantherzfan]

I like the pick, because of and better than our last first round pick

[frankw]

Oh god I did not know he hails from South Carolina.

Can we ever not draft kids with local ties? Still hope he's a baller but ffs we are obsessed.

[carpanfan96]

Don't mind the pick, but definitely doesn't start this year and might not next year. Needs a lot of refinement on technique and is a project. 

[Basbear]

1 minute ago, frankw said:

I honestly think Panthers fans are going to have a pretty brief honeymoon period with Walker. Packers let him walk for a reason.

Walker knocked the teeth out of the recent packer 1st and 2nd round LT. So bad..... Walker said he's healthy, feeling is not beating him out unless he is a HOFer or Motown gets a bad injury. 

[45catfan]

His biggest weakness is inexperience.  We can work on that.