July 19, 2026, 8:02 a.m. ET

As the Carolina Panthers head into training camp this upcoming week, most of the team’s critical positions are set in stone. But there are a few summer competitions that we should keep an eye on.

The biggest one is the battle at left tackle, where veteran free-agent signee Rasheed Walker and 2026 first-round pick Monroe Freeling are fighting to replace the injured Ikem Ekwonu. Ekwonu, who tore his patellar tendon in Carolina’s wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams in January, is expected to begin the campaign on the shelf.

Walker is likely to get the first-team reps at the outset of camp, but Freeling’s ridiculous athleticism give him a much higher ceiling. He has been named among six rookies around the NFL by Brent Sobleski at Bleacher Report with the most to gain at training camp.

Sobleski writes:

…Monroe Freeling entered this year’s draft cycle as a known developmental prospect. His performance and athletic profile still warranted a first-round draft pick despite the limited sample size… Despite much-needed technical refinement, Freeling has the chance to earn a Week 1 starting spot at left tackle, even if that isn’t the primary plan… Whereas Freeling has the physical tools, upside and recent draft status providing a massive runway to earn the job and never look back, as long as he doesn’t looked overwhelmed during training camp.

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Freeling will be put to the test right away against one of the Panthers’ most critical up-and-comers. Last year’s second-round draft pick Nic Scourton led the team in sacks as a rookie with 5.0, and his growth will be a huge factor in deciding whether or not the Panthers’ pass rush finally gets out of the NFL’s basement.

When he’s not lining up across from Scourton, Freeling will be facing Carolina’s biggest free-agent acquisition in many years. Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers in March, and is expected to headline the defense’s developing edge.

Freeling’s pass protection is his bread and butter, but he may need to show improvement as a run blocker to win the left tackle job. In 2025, Pro Football Focus grade Freeling out at 85.6 in pass blocking, but just 61.3 in run blocking.

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