Panthers HC Dave Canales is asked about plan for OT Monroe Freeling
Panthers HC Dave Canales was asked about his vision for OT Monroe Freeling, who doesn't have a clear path to the starting lineup in 2026.
The Carolina Panthers may not have room in the lineup, at least straightaway, for their new 6-foot-7, 315-pound hog molly. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan chatted with reporters on Thursday night, right after selecting University of Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Canales, who had stated a few weeks ago that he didn't want to draft for depth in the first round, was asked about the plan for Freeling—who doesn't seem to have a clear path to a starting role this upcoming season.
"We're always just gonna try to challenge every room," he replied. "And the way we do that is by picking the best player that fits that, and so that's what this approach was. It's pretty consistent with our philosophy of just challenging the roster in different ways.
" That roster currently includes left tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Rasheed Walker as well as right tackle Taylor Moton. Walker and Moton are likely to start come Week 1, with Ekwonu still recovering from the torn patellar tendon he sustained in the team's wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. So, where does that leave Freeling for his rookie campaign?
"We're gonna figure all that out," Canales later stated of Freeling's outlook. "Right now, we just gotta get him in here, talk to him, get him on the field. Most of our guys, outside of T-Mo and Ickey, most of our guys end up playing both sides throughout camp.