I’m sitting here with my left hand pressed against the side of my skull, the kind of throb that feels like a cheap movie soundtrack when you’ve just watched your favorite character die in slow motion. It’s not the kind of feeling you get after a bad game or even a bad trade—it’s the kind that hits you when you realize someone *actually* did something right this offseason, and it makes you question everything you thought you knew about talent evaluation. You see, I’ve been predicting disaster since before the first scout ever stepped foot in a college stadium. I’ve spent years yelling into the void about how draft boards are built on smoke and mirrors, how teams are more interested in filling their own egos than actually finding talent. But here we are—two weeks out from the 2026 NFL Draft, and suddenly seven players have *risen*? Like they climbed up the draft board like it was a ladder to heaven while I was busy crying into my beer over another failed pick?
You know what this feels like? It’s like watching *The Godfather* for the first time and realizing that Michael Corleone never had to take out Tom Hagen. That’s how absurd it is. These guys? They didn’t just *rise*. They *launched* into the stratosphere, leaving behind every analyst who said they were a reach or a project. I’m not even sure how it happened. One second, we’re all watching Monroe Freeling play like a guy trying to remember where he left his keys. The next? He’s being compared to the best offensive tackles of this generation. What changed?
Let me break it down for you. First up: *Monroe Freeling*, the 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive tackle from Georgia who somehow went from “Day 2 pick” chatter to first-round buzz in under a year. I remember sitting here last season, watching him play against Auburn and Texas and thinking, “This guy has all the tools but no real edge.” He looked like a guy who was waiting for someone else to do the hard work. But then—*poof*—he starts making 13 straight starts, holding up against some of the most explosive pass rushers in the SEC.
And I’m not just talking about his stats. Oh, he’s got those. But what really made me sit up and take notice? The way scouts started talking about him like he was a *person*. Not just a player. They mentioned how his hand placement improved *in real time*—like he wasn’t just studying film in the offseason but actually evolving during games. That’s not something you see every day, especially from a guy who looks like he’d be more comfortable in a yoga class than on an NFL field.
And then there was that comment about yoga. “Honestly, yoga just really helps with injury prevention,” Freeling said. “It’s huge on getting comfortable, just being flexible, and also the mindfulness part.” Mindfulness? In the NFL? That sounds like something from *The Last Airbender*, not a 6-foot-7 tackle who’s supposed to be one of the most physically dominant players in the draft.
But here’s the thing: I *get* it. Freeling has that rare combination of size and mobility, the kind that makes scouts go “Wait… is this guy for real?” He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds (which I’m pretty sure is faster than my car), has 34¾-inch arms (the size of a baby giraffe’s neck) and moves like a tight end in space. That’s not just a scouting report—it’s a *commercial*. And the best part? He’s still got time to add more strength before he turns 22. I mean, what else is there to say about a guy who can out-sprint me in my prime?
But Freeling isn’t the only one who’s taken off. Let’s talk about *Dillon Thieneman*, the safety from Oregon who went from “mid-to-late Day 2 pick” to first-round buzz after blowing up at the combine with a 4.37-second 40 and a 41-inch vertical.
I’m not even sure how that happened. I remember watching Thieneman play last season, thinking he was just another safety who could cover but couldn’t run. He had the tackles and the interceptions, sure, but no one was talking about him like a potential first-rounder. Then—*boom*—he goes to the combine and runs like he’s trying to break out of a prison cell. And not only that, but he’s got the vertical leap of someone who should be playing basketball. I mean, 41 inches? That’s not just good for a safety—it’s *insane*. It’s like he was holding back all season just to make us suffer.
And don’t even get me started on his résumé. Three years as a starter—two at Purdue, one at Oregon—with 302 tackles and eight interceptions? That’s not just a sample size; that’s a full damn library of football knowledge. But now he’s got that combine performance to back it up. It’s like watching *Breaking Bad* for the first time and realizing Walter White was always going to be a genius. Thieneman wasn’t just good—he was waiting for his moment.
Let me tell you something: when a guy with 302 tackles and eight picks can run a 4.37 and jump 41 inches, that’s not a safety—it’s a *force of nature*. I mean, what else is there to say? He’s got the size, he’s got the speed, he’s got the instincts. And now? Now he’s getting compared to guys like Jalen Pitre and Minkah Fitzpatrick. That’s not just a rise—it’s a full-blown *resurrection*.
And this isn’t even the best part. Because when I talk about these two players, I’m not just talking about them—I’m talking about how *we’ve all been wrong*. I remember last year saying that the NFL draft was going to be another disaster of missed opportunities and bad picks. And sure, there were some clunkers—like that poor guy from Nebraska who got picked in the first round and now looks like a lost cause—but then we had Freeling and Thieneman.
It’s like watching *The Wire* for the first time and realizing that everyone thought Baltimore was doomed, but then they found this guy named McNair who just happened to be a genius. That’s what it feels like right now. These guys didn’t just rise—they *defied expectations*. They turned into something more than we ever imagined.
And here’s the kicker: I’m starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, the NFL isn’t as broken as I thought it was. Maybe there are still people out there who can see talent when it’s in front of them. That’s not just a fantasy—it’s a *revelation*. Because for once, instead of watching another team waste a first-round pick on some college QB with a bad arm, we’re looking at players like Freeling and Thieneman, who have the physical tools, the mental sharpness, and the work ethic to succeed.
But let me be clear—I’m not just saying this because I want to feel good about myself. I’m saying it because these guys *deserve* it. They didn’t just rise—they earned it. And that’s a rare thing in the NFL draft, where so many players get drafted based on hype and not actual performance.
So here’s my take: Monroe Freeling is going to be a top-15 pick at worst. Dillon Thieneman? Maybe even higher than I thought. And if you’re out there thinking that these guys are just lucky breaks or one-off performances, then you’re missing the bigger picture. Because this isn’t just about two players—it’s about the entire process of how we evaluate talent.
And for once, instead of watching a team make another bad pick based on buzz and not actual performance, I’m actually excited to see what happens next. It’s like watching *Heat* for the first time and realizing that Al Pacino wasn’t just trying to be cool—he was actually trying to win. That’s how it feels right now.
So yes, I know it sounds crazy. But if you ask me, this draft is going to be one of the best in years, and it all starts with guys like Freeling and Thieneman—players who didn’t just rise—they *launched* into the stratosphere, leaving behind every analyst who said they were a reach or a project.
Because in the end, that’s what this is about: not just finding talent—but believing in it when no one else does. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that sometimes the best people are the ones who make you rethink everything you thought you knew.