Georgia OL Monroe Freeling Compared to Steelers OT Ahead of Draft

Freeling has impressed with his size and athleticism, but needs time to adjust to the NFL game.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an offensive lineman's blocking motion, with sharp planes of navy blue, red, and gold representing the Georgia Bulldogs colors.Georgia's Monroe Freeling displays the raw athleticism that has NFL teams intrigued, despite his lack of extensive starting experience.Today in Pittsburgh

Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling has shot up 2026 NFL draft boards after a strong performance at the combine. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein has compared Freeling to former Georgia standout Broderick Jones, who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Freeling has the coveted length and athleticism teams look for, he may need time to add strength and refine his technique before becoming a consistent NFL starter like Jones.

Why it matters

The comparison to Broderick Jones, a recent first-round pick, suggests Freeling has the potential to be a high draft selection and develop into a quality NFL offensive tackle. However, his lack of extensive starting experience at Georgia raises some concerns about how quickly he can adapt to the professional game.

The details

The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Freeling finished his Georgia career with 17 starts and 35 appearances, but did not receive a ton of snaps until his junior season. NFL.com's Zierlein notes Freeling has 'some buyer beware tape' from his time at Georgia, but projects him to eventually be a 'plus starter' in the NFL due to his impressive physical tools.

  • Freeling declared for the 2026 NFL Draft following Georgia's loss to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.

The players

Monroe Freeling

A 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive tackle who played for the Georgia Bulldogs and is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Broderick Jones

A former Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle who was selected 14th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones has started 27 of 28 games in his first two NFL seasons.

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What they’re saying

“Freeling has the coveted length and athleticism at right tackle that NFL teams are looking for, but he could add strength and improve his technique.”

— Lance Zierlein, NFL.com analyst

What’s next

Freeling will look to continue impressing NFL teams during Georgia's pro day and individual workouts ahead of the 2026 draft.

The takeaway

The Broderick Jones comparison suggests Freeling has the physical tools to develop into a quality NFL starter, but he may need time to refine his technique and add strength before becoming a consistent contributor at the professional level.