Carolina Panthers snag potential left tackle Monroe Freeling. With a rare chance to develop, he could revolutionize their offensive line.
The Carolina Panthers entered the draft in a good spot after making the playoffs in January.
The Panthers wanted to create competition at multiple positions on the roster instead of picking for a certain Day 1 need.
Carolina has offensive tackles Taylor Morton, Ikem Ekwonu, and Rasheed Walker. Walker came to the Panthers from the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
With Ekwonu recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon, the Panthers will turn to Walker or first-round pick Monroe Freeing to start in Week 1.
Field Yates of ESPN named the Panthers’ selection of Freeling as one of his favorite picks from the first round. Yates noted Freeling has two issues he'll have to work to overcome.
He needs more core strength. Freeling is also inexperienced.
"Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class," Yates wrote. "He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot.
"With Raheed Walker this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd."
Panthers head coach Dave Canales wants to see Freeling come in and compete for a starting job this spring. He believes the draft pick will challenge the offensive line to be better.
"The way it played out, he came right to us," Canales said, via the Panthers. "And this was a guy that we really valued, and for us, of course, our philosophy is always let's challenge our roster. Let's challenge every room with great players.
"And to get an opportunity to have a guy like this with athletic ability, the length, size, and all that, it's just, it's incredible. So we'll get him in there, we'll let him compete. That's what he'll be doing on the field."
Unlike most first-round picks, Freeling won't be facing pressure to perform at an elite level in Year 1. He can develop his technique until he's ready for playing time in the regular season--which is one way to deal with the experience issue.
Freeling could start the year as a swing tackle. By next season, the Panthers should have plans for him to start.
