NFL mock draft 2026: Browns select Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Welcome back to another year of the SB Nation Community Mock Draft!

As we do every draft season, all 32 NFL sites at SB Nation come together to fill out an entire first-round mock draft leading up to the actual event that takes place from April 23-25. One by one, our site managers will make their picks and provide their reasoning behind the selection. From there, I will provide further analysis on top of giving a final opinion on the pick!

Without further ado, let’s get’s things rolling!

With the sixth overall pick in the 2026 SB Nation Community Mock Draft, Dawgs By Nature’s Chris Pokorny and the Cleveland Browns select Monroe Freeling, offensive tackle, Georgia!

Pokorny’s analysis:

My analysis: This is the first pick that has me scratching my head a bit. Freeling may be the best offensive tackle in the class that isn’t being touted as a potential offensive guard conversion, but I do not agree that he has the best potential on the edge. Right off the bat, I’d say both Francis Mauigoa of Miami and Utah’s Spencer Fano are both better tackle prospects. The fact that both are being seen as converts speaks more to their overall level of talent across the line as opposed to being dragged down by some noteworthy shortcomings.

I respect this though. If Pokorny and the Browns believe this is their guy, you need to go get them and all consensus draft boards be damned. Freeling has the elite athleticism to be a top-tier tackle, but his lack of starting experience in college has left him a bit unpolished as a pass protector and if you’re looking to be the draft’s top player at the position, you can’t have questions about your ability to protect your quarterback out of the gate.