On Friday, ESPN provided the latest intel on the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. When it came to players who are not consensus top-10 picks but might be taken in the first 10 selections next month, NFL Draft expert Matt Miller named Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.
He might rise into the top 10 based on positional value and need. The 6-foot-7, 315-pounder was just a one-year starter, but his athletic tools are that of a high-end NFL starter on the left side. Like Proctor, the Browns or Chiefs could take a chance on Freeling.
The Cleveland Browns have the No. 6 overall selection, and the Kansas City Chiefs hold the No. 9 overall pick. Freeling put together an excellent workout as the offensive linemen closed out this year's combine. He ran an official 4.93 40-yard dash, which included a 1.71 10-yard split. Additionally, Freeling had a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot, 7-inch broad jump.
How strong was Freeling's combine performance? Pro Football Network gave Freeling a Relative Athletic Score of 9.99 on a scale of 1 to 10, and that calculation was with his unofficial 40 time of 4.95. Freeling ranked No. 2 out of 1,512 offensive tackles measured from 1987 to 2026. The only lineman to post better metrics than Freeling was Northern Iowa offensive tackle Spencer Brown in 2021.
Freeling appeared in all 14 games in the 2025 season, starting 13, and earning SEC Coaches All-SEC Second Team honors, along with two SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week selections. He played in 35 games in three seasons at Georgia, with 17 starts. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart discussed after the win over Texas what Freeling meant to his team during the 2025 season.
"Demeanor, character, leadership," Smart said. Approaches the game the right way. A growth mindset of being open to get better. He doesn't ever think he's arrived. He knows that he can improve and I think he knows humility is a week away in this league because he's blocking good players."
Freeling was listed as questionable for the Auburn game due to an ankle injury he suffered roughly five minutes into the game against Kentucky, from which he did not return to the field. Freeling was listed as a game-time decision 90 minutes before kickoff on Saturday. He did not warm up during pre-game. Bo Hughley got the start against Auburn, making it the sixth different offensive line combination to start a game for Georgia in six games. Kirby Smart told the ABC broadcast team that Freeling would be available "if we need him." On Georgia's second possession, early in the second quarter, Freeling entered the game at left tackle and was credited with four knockdown blocks and allowed no pressures or sacks on Gunner Stockton as Georgia went 3-for-3 in the red zone. Following the win, Smart gave his thoughts bout Freeling playing through injury against Auburn.
"Guts, toughness, grit. I mean, if you told me after watching him Wednesday or whatever day it was, Thursday, when he just went out and tried to run and work out. I mean, I was questioning whether we should bring him on the trip," Smart said.
"He texted me and said, 'Coach, I'm going on this trip and I'm playing. And I'm gonna be ready.' And just says a ton about his competitive character in a day and age that some guys have to look out for themselves or whatever. He's all about the team. And he made it clear that he wanted to help this team win that game. And he played a huge role in the game, especially after the Juan (Gaston) ankle came, we had to start flip-flopping."