Monroe Freeling is What he is

Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling is a challenging evaluation.

Why’s that?

Because of his quarterback during the 2025 season, Gunnar Stockton.

What’s the problem with Stockton?

He held the ball too long.

What was his “Time in Pocket” in 2025?

Overall ⎯

Per Pro Football Focus: 2.76 seconds

To put that into context, where does Stockton rank amongst college football quarterbacks in the 2025 regular season and postseason?

No. 530

How was his “Passing Pressure” time in the regular and postseason?

3.77 seconds.

Where does that rank?

No. 294

In other words, his time to throw was painfully slow and frustrating to watch, especially when evaluating Freeling.

What made it so frustrating?

Because of how it affected Freeling on film.

How did it affect him?

It affected Freeling the same way it affects all offensive linemen when their quarterback can’t get the ball out of their hand on time.

It makes them look worse than they really are.

😳

There were countless times on film when Freeling made a good-enough block in pass protection, but because of this issue with Stockton, he eventually lost his block and “looked bad.”

On top of how long Stockton held the ball ⎯

He decided to take off running (most of the time because of the same problem) another 129 times, which presented even more challenges for his offensive line.

All told, Stockton was sacked 18 times.

What else made Freeling’s evaluation challenging?

Freeling is an anomaly.

Meaning?

His pass blocking is unorthodox.

How so?

Because Freeling gives an elite-level effort and has elite athleticism and speed, he gets away with things that would get most other left tackles beat (he received the second-highest “Relative Athletic Score” out of 1512 offensive tackles scored since 1987).

It took me nine games into my film study to see it. That’s when I researched his athleticism. Up until then, I was focused on what I was perceiving as “his inconsistent footwork in pass protection.” But it’s not “inconsistent,” it’s his playing style. While Freeling shows he can slide out like all the other NFL All-Pros, he tends to overcommit to protecting the shallow depth of the pocket first before he ends up “chasing” and working the pass rusher to the backdoor of the pocket (or around the quarterback’s backside) if they go that route instead.

*And it works for him.

Per PFF (2025) ⎯

Freeling in 390 pass blocking reps:

• 1 sack allowed
• 0 hits allowed
• 5 pressures allowed

NFL projection

Freeling will get it done at the next level in pass protection.

How about run blocking?

Is he the world’s best run blocker?

No.

But Freeling is good enough. He relies on leverage to win, and he can pull and get downfield, no problem. He’s just not the greatest at “sustaining” run blocks for longer periods of time.

That works in a league where 31/32 teams passed the ball more than 50% of the time in 2025.

It’ll work very well.

#57 Monroe Freeling 6-foot-7, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2026 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First Round prospect as of March 27, 2026

2025 game film evaluated: Marshall, Austin Peay, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, Mississippi State, Texas, Charlotte, Georgia Tech, Alabama, and Ole Miss (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Ankle injury information (2025)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

A prospect who imposes his will. High energy. Physical. Good reflexes. High-level football IQ and protective instincts. Functional playing strength. Can overaggress and get out of control. Quick first step in pass pro. Longer reaching arms to keep pass rushers from getting into his chest (34 3/4 NFL.com). Solid anchor. Can hunker down eventually against bull rushers. Anticipates well. Handles stunts, blitzes, head fakes, and spin moves. Works well in double teams. Good at making combo run blocks. Hit and miss in space.

Final words

Freeling is an NFL franchise left tackle waiting to happen.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.