
The Carolina Panthers selected offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick, enhancing their depth on the offensive line. Freeling, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 315 pounds, showcased impressive athleticism at the combine.
So much for the high-flying safety and the Madden-number wide receivers.
When it came time to actually make their first-round pick on Thursday night, the Carolina Panthers elected to go the safe route—boosting their depth at offensive tackle by picking monstrous Georgia lineman Monroe Freeling at No. 19 overall.
Freeling (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) also has some startling athleticism for his size. At the combine, he posted a 4.93-second 40-yard dash time and a 33.5-inch vertical jump. All together, he earned a near-perfect 9.99 RAS score.
By taking Freeling, the Panthers made sure that they don't end up with two big holes on either end of their offensive line—depending on how things go with veteran Taylor Moton and Ickey Ekwonu, who's coming back from a torn patellar tendon he sustained in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Let's see where Freeling fits into the overall picture at this spot.
Here, per Ourlads Football, is the projected tackle depth chart for Week 1 . . .
Left tackle
Right tackle
Monroe Freeling is a 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive tackle selected by the Carolina Panthers, known for his impressive athleticism.
At the combine, Monroe Freeling recorded a 4.93-second 40-yard dash and a 33.5-inch vertical jump, earning a near-perfect 9.99 RAS score.
The Panthers selected Monroe Freeling to strengthen their offensive line depth and address potential gaps due to injuries to veteran players.

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With Ekwonu as a potential early-season IR candidate, free-agent signees Walker and Forsythe are likely to man the blindside from the jump. That could leave Freeling, who has 287 snaps' worth of college experience at right tackle, behind Moton.
We could also see Freeling challenge Walker, who was only signed to a one-year, $4 million deal, on the blindside.
The depth chart may be a much different story in 2027, when Ekwonu and Walker can hit the open market and Moton can become a victim of the chopping block.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Panthers' updated OT depth chart with Monroe Freeling