It’s mock draft season.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler dropped his first mock of the season on Wednesday morning for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and has the New England Patriots adding more protection for Drake Maye by taking offensive tackle Monroe Freeling out of Georgia with the 32nd pick.
“The Patriots’ new team motto: Protect Drake Maye at all costs. Morgan Moses has played well at right tackle this season, but he turns 35 in March,” Brugler wrote. “Freeling would be a great understudy who could provide short-term depth and a long-term answer on the outside.”
Freeling was part of the Bulldogs’ offensive line that ranked first in the SEC in 2023 when he appeared in eight games for Georgia. He played in all 13 games his sophomore season, and entered his junior year as the starting left tackle.
Getting Maye protection was a big emphasis for New England in the offseason. The Patriots drafted Will Campbell out of LSU with the fourth overall pick in 2025, signed Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury.
The Patriots’ O-line was banged up going into their Week 13 primetime matchup with the New York Giants, so adding more depth for the short and the long-term would certainly benefit New England.