Dan Morgan held true to BPA approach by making a calculated decision with Monroe Freeling — and the rest will figure itself out
The Carolina Panthers stunned a lot of people with their first-round selection of Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, but the process behind the decision speaks for itself.
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan intended to enter into the 2026 NFL Draft with the best player available mindset, an approach that led the team toward drafting Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick.
Freeling was viewed as one of the top tackles in the class and one of the top athletes, regardless of position. Based on projections and positional value, it was a steal for the Panthers even if the selection was a curveball for the fanbase.
“We’re really excited about Monroe,” Morgan told reporters Thursday night. “Best player on our board, big, long, athletic, physical, a guy with high upside that we’re extremely excited about. Adding him to our room, I think he can play left side, he can play right side, brings a lot of value to us.”
Drafting a first-round offensive tackle was a calculated decision by the Carolina Panthers
Tackle always loomed as a top need for the Panthers to solidify some long-term stability at the position. Former sixth overall pick and starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu suffered a significant patellar tendon injury back in January that will likely force him to miss the entirety of the 2026 season.
Even if he returns to his former form, the Panthers will have to pay Ekwonu after 2026, which will be the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. Carolina also has long-term concerns on the right side as well with Taylor Moton entering his 10th season at age 32.
The Panthers did make one major addition to the room in free agency, a one-year deal with former Green Bay Packers starting left tackle Rasheed Walker. It was a steal of a deal, but the price doesn’t guarantee him a starting position for the 2026 season, especially with a first-round rookie now entering the fold.
“We’re always just gonna try to challenge every room,” head coach Dave Canales explained. “And the way that we do that is by picking the best player that fits that. So that’s what this approach was. It’s pretty consistent with our philosophy of just challenging the roster in different ways.”
Even if Freeling doesn’t start during his rookie year, it’s not hard to see the long-term vision with this selection at either tackle position. It’s never a bad move to add top athletic talent at such a premium position while letting the rest figure itself out.
“We definitely use a big tight end,” Canales added. “So if he doesn’t win a job, he’s going to play some way, shape, or form, because he’s just such a talent.”
The future looks bright for Freeling who has the potential to become a 10+ year player as a bookend tackle for this offense. It’s hard to fault the decision made on Thursday night, regardless of who was still on the board.
