DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk NFL Draft 2026 OL in the draft

Just watched Joe Thomas talk about arm length, etc., etc.- he stated broad jump important- explosion and body control-- I'd listen to best ever tackle- I'm in for Freeling- Joe was pretty light but athletic. Bench press and 10 yard time shows train. Go Browns!!!

Pick # 6, OT- Mauigoa (UM) or Fano (UT), #24, OT-Dunker (IA), #39, WR- Bell (UL) or Brazzell (TN) or Conception T A&M), #70, QB-Beck (UM), #107, OG-Reed-Adams (TA&M) or best OG avail

I'm willing to sacrifice a little bit of ceiling if it means getting a LT that we feel confident can come in and play competently in the NFL. I think we could see a huge overall boost just by stabilizing the OT position (vs shooting for the moon on a prospect).

I would ask Joe for his oline pick list and just use that going forward.

I agree. However, I don't want to draft another RT early, when we supposedly just traded for our starting RT. Most of these offensive tackles in this draft are either RT or G in the NFL. We need to be aware of what they will be when evaluating them. Had we signed a competent LT, then yes, I would have no issue with drafting a RT early. However, they have already stated Tytus Howard was traded to play RT, not get pushed inside to G. To me, they are skating around every question they are asked, so to come out and say he was traded to be our RT means, he is going to play RT.

My fear lies in desperation.. both ours and the other teams drafting in the top 20. Do I think Freeling is going to be an All Pro in 3 years? His film doesn't indicate the skillset to be that, but he certainly has the build to be a very relevant LT in this league. Picking #6 overall, I expect a team changer... I'm still not sold Freeling is a team changer. Now, if you could drop down 6-9 spots, pick up another first round in this or next year's draft and still get him, we are talking the correct wheel house of his expected improvement to the team. If he over performs, great! He could be a steal. If he performs right about where we expect him to, then it will be underwhelming and disappointing if someone like Carnell Tate becomes an All Pro WR and our Monroe Freeling is signing his extended contract, but has never really shown if he should get one, certainly not considered for a top 5 LT contract.

Again, I have no issue trading down and getting more players for that #6 spot... If we can't find that trade partner, there are certainly going to be players worthy of the #6 pick. Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain.. In fact, if I am going to go offensive line "No Matter What", I would rather over reach for Ioane over any of these other linemen. I think he is the one guy in this draft that is going to dominate his position...Can't take a guard there, so which ever of the previous 6 were available, I'd be good taking them.

I feel like I could name a handful of guys in this situation, but for the sake of keeping it short--If one of Caleb Downs, Jeremiyah Love or even Sonny Styles is sitting there at #6, I could easily see a team trying to move up to get one of these guys. Especially Love with teams like KC, NO, WAS all possibly salivating for him and they're picking back to back to back from 7-9. Or a team like DAL wanting Downs. At this point, I'd love to trade down a few spots and then pick up Freeling.

I think that would be a very good scenario for us.

The best scenario the Browns could hope for is to fill holes in free agency best they can, so they are not forced to take a player of need. The best teams always take best player available early. Example would be if you see an O Lineman as a possible all pro vs Caleb Downs as a generational hall of famer. You should not pass up the hall of famer. I would not have an issue with that. You still have the reminder of the draft to fill need. When a difference maker is available you cannot pass him up.

Also, the 2027 draft is being viewed by many as one of the all-time best drafts in history. Teams will be very reluctant to trade 1st round picks out of that draft. If an opportunity arose and a team offered the Browns a 2027 1st it will be very hard to pass up.

If they had to stay at #6 and draft an Oline or WR I think they have to take the LT from Georgia Monroe Freeling. He fits the analytics best. He is young, he plays a premium position and was viewed as a 1st round talent before impressing at the combine. The performance at the combine just solidifies the tape. If he stayed in college 1 more year he would have been seen as the top tackle in next year's draft and probably a top 10 pick even in a good draft. That would be my target if no trade down. a trade down is my preference especially if you can get a 2027 1st. Might have to drop further than you wanted though but premium talent is expected to be much deeper in that draft class. I will have no issue with a Caleb Downs if the Browns believe like I do that he will be a hall of famer someday and draft him. Nick Saban only had Downs as a freshman and said he was the smartest player he ever coached.

I can't say I really disagree with anything you posted. I do know that need always plays a part in the draft process. Just how far it goes I would say may vary from team to team.

I certainly agree that the goal is to fill all of your major needs in the FA market to free you up in the draft to pick BPA. Yet at the same time that's not always possible. Sometimes it's because you have so many needs it's impossible to fill them all in the FA market or much like this year so many teams have needs at similar positions.

Better teams seem to have less needs making it an easier job for them to accomplish that than teams near the bottom with more needs.

The OL seems to be a need of many teams. Both at the OT position as well as interior linemen. And generally speaking, solid LT's are never allowed to hit the FA market.

I don't quite know where that will leave the Browns on draft day or how much need will dictate their picks. But if I had to guess I would venture to say that OT may be their first pick and WR their second pick.

I like Guards and centers. If you have a wall up the middle, the QB has room to step up. As long as your tackles don't get beat inside, the DE rush is largely eliminated. Their attack angle is changed taking them right back in to the tackle.

That is if the QB has room to take a few steps forward.

As some have said, I like Freeling as well. I do question something about the evaluation process. Freeling goes from a lower 1st round pick to top 10? Something is off here. Was it the initial evaluations or is the combine hype inflating his real value?

Love, I'd take him at 6 if he is there. Who doesn't want a Gibbs or Barkley on their team? A tandem of Love and Judkins would be pretty sweet.

According to Tony Grossi podcast in Cleveland, he said at the combine last week the sentiment around NFL GMs was due to the workout of Freeling the media are just now getting around to what NFL GM's already thought about Freeling. Basically, NFL GM's had Freeling much higher on their boards than draft analyst before the combine and now the media sees what their scouts already saw, and he is moving up on their boards. I think a few of us were discussing Freeling before the combine and we came to the conclusion after his workouts he would move up especially because he plays a premium position and would not be available at #24. If dummies like us can see that NFL scouts were way ahead of that thought already.

You won't get an argument from me about generational evaluations. IF that prospect is evaluated that highly and he is available at #6, you just can't pass him up. Downs might end up being evaluated that highly, as might Sonny Styles. It could get interesting.

The part I might debate a little is where Monroe Freeling was rated based on film alone. Before everything started shaking out as to where tackles in this draft really fit within the scheme of a LT at the NFL level, Freeling was typically a mid-2nd rounder. As the waters settled and the lack of other LT candidates started to emerge, he started to emerge as a potential first rounder. A couple of weeks prior to the combine, he was finally cemented as an official first round candidate, then the underwear olympics have now thrust him into top 10 contention. I caution against over drafting based on the combine. It could set back the team as much as propelling it when they are wrong on a top 10 pick.

It's hard to find old rankings, since everyone puts new ones out daily.
USA Today in January, not in the top 32: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/01/04/2026-nfl-draft-big-board-top-32/88010069007/
FOX Sports January Mock: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/2026-nfl-mock-draft
Bleacher Report November 2025 didn't have him on their Top 150 prospects: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25298661-br-nfl-scouting-depts-2026-nfl-draft-top-150-big-board
Here's an article from Feb 15th only giving out 11 first round grades, Freeling wasn't one of them: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-nfl-draft-only-11-200108465.html
In December 2025, AtoZ Sports had Freeling at #67: https://atozsports.com/nfl-draft/20...dante-moore-arvell-reese-jeremiyah-love/

Mid to late January, once the bowls were in the books, Freeling started to pick up steam to possibly be a first rounder, then in February he was expected to be a first rounder, now we are discussing him as possibly #6 overall.

Had to throw this one in:
Here's one from FOX Sports in December comparing Francis Mauigoa to none other than Browns RT Tytus Howard.. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-guide-bowl-season-best-prospect-each-position

This is very true, I agree!! Scouts definitely see what we don't and what talking heads don't discuss. I am in total agreement that if they already had him evaluated as a top 15 talent coming out of the 2025 season, he definitely would deserve that #6 overall consideration.

Having the size, speed, and athleticism means that you can be taught the techniques and finer points.... and we have this guy named Joe that I guarantee would love to work with him on technique.

Don't be so sure on either account..

Ever heard of a guy named Tony Mandarich? Supposed to be a hall of famer out of college, started a handful of games in his short career. He was dreadful. Looked the part...

JT has been out of the office since 2017-2018, that's 8 years (hard to believe) and he hasn't had the inkling to take up coaching. He is making good money with his on air gigs and his meat company. I don't think he wants to take time off to help the Browns groom a lineman. We needed to get Bill Callahan back in the building and that ship sailed when Stefanski stole him away to Atlanta. All we can do is hope the staff they brought on is good and they make the best choices once the draft arrives. I certainly hope Freeling is a future stud if he ends up in Cleveland, he just hasn't shown it to be that way yet, despite his nearly perfect makeup for the position.

Yes I do remember. I mean it was in 1989 but I remember. I too can travel in the Wayback machine.

Mandarich's downfall likely has a lot more to do with transitioning from massive amounts of steroids to massive amounts of painkillers. I don't think any "mentor" could have fixed that by working on technique.

But man, he was a beast... on paper.

Amen on the Joe Thomas comment- my gut tells me I want a real "beast" offensive lineman at 6....but we have D Jones, all 6ft 8in, 374 lbs, he is a BEAST- but, beast can't stay AVAILABLE. Feeling is slim atheletic LT who can gain weight, I for him over beast mode.