An inside look into why the Carolina Panthers drafted Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling. The 2026 NFL draft concluded this past weekend. The Georgia Bulldogs had a total of eight players selected within the seven rounds, and one first round pick. That first round pick was Monroe Freeling, who was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 19th overall pick. Freeling becmae the 21st first round pick of Kirby Smart's head coaching career. Smart now has as many career losses as he does career first round picks. Needless to say, the Bulldogs have become quite the pipeline for NFL talent. There are many reasons why NFL organizations ultimately decide to take a prospect in the first round of the draft, and the Panthers gave an inside look into why they drafted Freeling. Why Monroe Freeling Was Selected by the Carolina Panthers Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (OL24) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.…