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A Yahoo Sports mock draft projected Nick Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles to select Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Philadelphia Eagles have some difficult decision to make this offseason. General manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni could easily use the team’s 2026 first-round pick to replace a star who departs in free agency.
The Eagles, though, could also look ahead and use their first pick to have a backup plan behind an aging veteran.
That’s what Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald and Nate Tice predicted in their latest mock draft released Tuesday. McDonald and Tice slotted Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling to the Eagles at No. 23 overall.
Freeling could be an eventual replacement for former All-Pro Lane Johnson.
“Freeling has been a big riser over the back half of the college season and might go even higher than this when this cycle is all said and done. He has good size with long arms and a frame that could add even more bulk,” wrote McDonald and Tice. “Freeling is an easy mover (his basketball background shows up constantly) whose technique and polish sharpened quickly after he got healthy this year. He even showed improved play strength and ability to anchor the last month of the season that only adds to his appeal.
“Freeling might play on the left side in college, but his athleticism should allow him to flip sides if needed. Howie Roseman loves investing in the trenches and this would give Jeff Stoutland and company a Lane Johnson succession plan.”
Johnson made one of the All-Pro teams every season from 2021-24. But this past year, he dealt a Lisfranc football injury at the end of the campaign.
While Johnson’s contract runs through 2028, the tackle will turn 36 years old in May.
Why Nick Sirianni’s Eagles Could Pick Tackle Monroe Freeling
A lot of NFL draft analysts have predicted Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq to land with the Eagles. Ironically, their reasoning has been somewhat similar to why the Yahoo Sports analysts projected the Eagles to target Freeling.
Veteran tight end Dallas Goedert turned 31 in January, and he’s a free agent this offseason. If he’s not back, the Eagles will have to replace 11 receiving touchdowns in their offense.
Goedert’s 11 scores in 2025 were a career best.
Interestingly, Sadiq was still on the board in the Yahoo Sports mock draft released Tuesday. In the mock, Sadiq landed with the New England Patriots at No. 31 overall.
Instead of the Oregon tight end, McDonald and Tice had the Eagles go with a succession plan elsewhere on offense — at tackle.
The Eagles have both of their starting tackles under contract for 2026. So unless they make a roster cut or trade, drafting Freeling could mean Philadelphia doesn’t start its first-round pick as a rookie next year.
But swing tackle Fred Johnson, who replaced Lane Johnson in the starting lineup after his injury, is a free agent. In all likelihood, he will be out of Philadelphia’s price range this March.
The Eagles are going to have to find another backup tackle for the immediate future. Drafting Freeling would also give Philadelphia a plan for after Johnson is done playing.
Freeling might need some seasoning anyway. The Eagles could be one of the best places for him to land because he wouldn’t have to start immediately.
“With only 16 career starts, filling out his frame and improving his technique should be early priorities,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. “There is some buyer beware on tape, but if smoothed out, he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter.”
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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