The Cleveland Browns have been searching for a legitimate left tackle since the day that Joe Thomas retired in 2018, and despite bursting onto the scene late, UGA’s Monroe Freeling shows the potential to be that player for Todd Monken and Company.
Standing at 6’7” and around 315 pounds, he has excellent size, length, and athleticism for the left tackle position in the NFL. As of right now, he’s a bit raw in terms of overall technique, but he shows enough potential to be selected early on in April.
The name of the game for Freeling has been his quickness and explosion at Georgia. The way he’s able to explode out of his stance and get set before anyone else allows him to position himself incredibly well on a consistent basis.
He’s undoubtedly the most athletic and agile offensive tackle in this year’s class, and he honestly looks like a tight end when he’s sprinting outside on screens and moving downfield to block at the second and third levels. It’s going to be fun watching him move around at the NFL Combine this year, and he could potentially skyrocket up draft boards even faster than he is right now following a good performance.
One of the only things he needs to work on at the pro level is adding a power element to his game, and that comes from simply building strength and working on his target points on defenders. If new Browns OL Coach George Warhop can work with him on a couple of things, Freeling undoubtedly has the potential to be the type of left tackle that Cleveland has been in dire need of for so long.
It’s about time that the team goes after an offensive tackle early on in the draft, and Freeling could definitely be one of their top options at pick No.24 or No.39.
Current NFL Draft projection: Rounds 1-2
