Chiefs draft profile: Monroe Freeling's upside play is best suited for another team

The smoke around the Chiefs and a first-round tackle really doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. While some of it might just be lazy analysis with the release of Jawaan Taylor, some of the most prominent voices in the draft community have connected the Chiefs with a top tackle. Recently, Daniel Jeremiah mocked Spencer Fano to the Chiefs at pick No. 9. Jeremiah has always said he does his mocks with his "ears and not his eyes."

Despite how we might feel about it, the Chiefs might be more in on tackle than we think. Maybe they just don't trust Jaylon Moore as anything more than a swing tackle. Or maybe the questions around Josh Simmons are bigger than we might know? Regardless, we can't just continue to ignore the Chiefs trying to get better at a position of utmost importance with a top-10 pick.

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NFL Draft Profile: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

1. Monroe Freeling's background
2. Monroe Freeling's strengths
3. Monroe Freeling's weaknesses
4. Why Monroe Freeling's fit doesn't make sense for Kansas City

Monroe Freeling's background

Age: 21 (on draft day)

Height: 6-7

Weight: 315 LBS.

Hands: 10 3/4 inches

Arms: 34 3/4 inches

Tape Exposure: Tennessee (2025), Texas (2025), Auburn (2025)

Freeling attended Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where he also played basketball in addition to football. Rated as a 4-star prospect by 247Sports, he was the top recruit in the state of South Carolina and the #6 tackle in the class of 2023. He committed to Georgia out of high school. Freeling saw partial playing time as a backup his freshman year behind Broderick Jones. He then also sat behind Earnest Greene his sophomore season before becoming the starter his junior year. Freeling finished his career with 17 starts at left tackle.

Monroe Freeling's strengths

Traits

Has tools for days to be a high-level tackle, with special length combined with a 99th-percentile athletic score. Still 21 years old with very limited starting experience, teams will look at the traits and the talent and see tremendous upside in his projection.

Foot Speed

Smooth kick step, gets depth naturally with smooth and fluid hips. Ability to get up the arc helps him against speed rushers.

Movement in Space

Climbs to the second level well and could be a real weapon in a dynamic run scheme or screen game with his movement skills.

Monroe Freeling's weaknesses

Run Blocking

Below-average run blocker who struggles to move bodies or dig out leverage from a point of strength. For a player with such special movement skills, the amount of times he climbs to the second level and blocks absolutely nobody is surprising.

Play Height

Plays like a guy who is 6-7, with too much waist bending and constantly off balance in both pass and run blocking. Needs to get stronger with the anchor. He loses slowly rather than winning in pass protection.

Hand Usage

Hands need quite a bit of work, with better placement and initial punch needed. Tends to revert to the same technique each time.

Why Monroe Freeling's fit doesn't make sense for Kansas City

The top-10 buzz around Freeling is pretty hard to understand based on the tape. Yes, there's a projection there that is exciting for a player with tons of tools and not much playing time. However, taking a player with his current play in that range is hard to understand. Josh Simmons was a more polished prospect coming out of school.

Add in the fact that Freeling has only played left tackle, which would involve moving Simmons to the right side. He has played there before, but it's not sure that's the best usage for a tackle who showed he can be a quality starter on the left side. Freeling might be best for another team to find out about.

Freeling is a long, athletic tackle with good quickness, fluid movement, and improving pass protection, showing the ability to mirror rushers, handle twists, and contribute effectively in space as a blocker. His anchor and contact balance are solid, and his performance progressed throughout the season, suggesting strong developmental upside. However, he struggles with consistency in hand placement, leverage, and run-blocking technique, often overextending or lunging, which allows defenders to disengage or beat him with counters.

Round Grade: Green Chip (2nd Round Pick)

Shades of: Patrick Paul