Georgia first-round pick signs $20.9M contract

The Georgia Bulldogs saw another player selected in the first-round of the NFL draft, and now, he's earned his first NFL contract. Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, whom the Carolina Panthers selected No. 19 overall, signed his rookie contract May 7, according to a team announcement.

Financial terms haven't been announced yet, but Spotrac predicted that Monroe Freeling will earn a four-year, $20.9 million fully guaranteed contract with a fifth-year team option.

"I mean, first of all, he looks great," Panthers coach Dave Canales said on Freeling. "He's been working really hard, just trying to continue to increase his strength. He showed up about 325, and looked great, moved well, showed the length, and all the things.

"That was just kind of an emphasis of his, and I mean, if you think the guy's 21 years old, so he's still growing into whatever his frame is. But as we know, seasons get long, and guys have a chance to kind of settle in and focus on some things, and the work showed up. But he looks great, he's moving well, so I'm really pleased with that.

When he was at Georgia, Freeling emerged as a starting offensive lineman for the Bulldogs. He was a coveted recruit, with the 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman ranking as the No. 33 recruit in the class of 2023.

The Bulldogs earned a commitment from him on Aug. 29, 2022, and he earned the starting job against the Tennessee Volunteers in Week 12 of the 2024 season. He would never relinquish it.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Monroe Freeling is selected by the Carolina Panthers as the No. 19 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft