Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle Monroe Freeling had an emotional NFL draft call with the Carolina Panthers after the Panthers elected to pick Freeling with the No. 19 selection in the first-round of the draft. Freeling, a Charleston, South Carolina, native gets to stay in the Carolinas and won't be far from the University of Georgia for the start his NFL career.
With the Panthers, Freeling won't have the pressure to start right away, unless there's a significant injury. That will help Freeling transition to the NFL. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive tackle is arguably the most athletic offensive linemen in the draft, but is working to refine his technique.
Draft night is always an emotional night and it was no different for Freeling, who was watching the draft with his family in Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan called Freeling to deliver the good news that Carolina was picking Freeling. An elated Freeling also spoke with owner David Tepper and coach Dave Canales.
"How would you feel about being a Panther, man?" Morgan asked.
"We're excited to have you, man," Morgan continued. "Super excited."
"Oh brother, this is a great day," Canales said. "I'm glad it played out this way. We're so fired up to get you here, man."
Freeling has already had an opportunity to visit the Panthers after being drafted. Now, Freeling will get to follow his NFL dreams just a few hours from home.
"It was surreal, and it's still surreal, and I don't even know if it's set in quite yet that I'm staying home and I'm only a three-hour drive from home, and it's closer than I was in Athens, so it's still not really setting in yet," Freeling said. "But I imagine that in the next 24 hours, maybe even the next week, it's going to really hit me that I'm here and I'm blocking for a former teammate of mine, and it's everything I've ever wanted."
Freeling is reunited with his former Georgia teammate Trevor Etienne. The duo won an SEC championship together at Georgia in 2024.
Carolinas calling ☎️#NFLDraft | @budlight pic.twitter.com/2VcmkaF06D
Freeling gets life-changing money for being a first-round pick. The big offensive tackle is expected to sign a four-year contract worth approximately $20.9 million that is fully guaranteed.
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia OL Monroe Freeling's emotional draft call with the Panthers