Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling entered the 2025 season coming off shoulder surgery, then played his way into first-round NFL draft consideration anyway.
Freeling underwent surgery in the offseason before the 2025 campaign after suffering a torn labrum, but the injury did little to slow his rise. Despite the procedure, Freeling turned in a strong season protecting the edge for Georgia and showed the type of durability and athletic upside that has made him one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
The 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle allowed just nine pressures and three sacks all season, while drawing only two penalties. Those numbers underscore how effective Freeling remained in pass protection even after entering the year with a significant shoulder issue.
Freeling also battled through an ankle sprain suffered in Week 6 that forced him into a boot. He did not miss any time, however, and continued to play through the injury the rest of the season, adding to an overall profile that should appeal to NFL teams looking for both toughness and reliability.
Any lingering questions about his athleticism were answered at the NFL combine, where Freeling delivered one of the most impressive testing performances by an offensive lineman in recent memory. He became the first player in combine history to measure at least 6-foot-7, weigh 315 pounds and still post a sub-5.00-second 40-yard dash, a vertical jump over 30 inches and a broad jump over 9 feet.
That performance produced an unofficial 9.99 Raw Athletic Score, ranking Freeling second among all offensive linemen who have tested at the NFL combine since 1987.
Following his strong 2025 season and elite combine showing, Freeling is now widely projected as a first-round pick. Some projections have him going in the top half of the first round, with teams likely drawn to his high-end pass-protection traits, rare movement skills and proven ability to perform through injury.
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, teams are doing more than just reviewing game tape; they're digging deep into medical histories. While talent is paramount, durability is critical in a league where physical attrition is a weekly reality. Several top prospects enter the draft with injury concerns that could affect their stock, especially as teams weigh short-term availability against long-term risk.
At SIC, we’ve analyzed the most notable health-related storylines among top NFL hopefuls, using both medical insight and positional value to assess how injuries could shape their draft outcomes.
Check out the 2026 NFL Draft Injury Guide
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