Eagles Mock Draft: PFF has Philadelphia taking Monroe Freeling to build for life after Lane Johnson

Eagles fans are not going to love seeing another safety come off the board before Philadelphia picks, but PFF’s latest mock draft has the team pivoting to the trenches instead and landing Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling. That is a very Eagles kind of move.

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PFF’s logic is simple. The safety board got picked over before No. 23, and with Lane Johnson’s future beyond 2026 still not fully settled, Philadelphia turns toward the offensive line and grabs a long-term tackle prospect. PFF described Freeling as a raw but appealing fit because of his length, strength, and physical style, which sounds exactly like the kind of developmental lineman this organization has bet on before.

Eagles could be thinking beyond Lane Johnson

Monroe Freeling looked like a 1st-round OT against Ole Miss 🦍

MAULER. pic.twitter.com/vNyreqeP5j

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 5, 2026

The Eagles do not draft for panic. They draft for the future, especially in the trenches. That is why this projection makes sense even if safety feels like the more obvious need on paper.

Lane Johnson is still one of the best tackles in football, but he is not going to play forever. If the Eagles believe Freeling can sit, develop, and eventually take over, this is the kind of pick Howie Roseman would absolutely consider. They have never been shy about investing premium capital in offensive linemen before the need becomes a full-blown problem.

Freeling fits that mold. He has the frame, the movement skills, and the kind of upside that offensive line coaches love getting their hands on. He is not being mocked here because he is a polished, plug-and-play star. He is being mocked here because the tools are obvious, and the Eagles are one of the few teams that can afford to let a player like that develop the right way.

Eagles would be betting on traits and upside

Freeling looks like a classic projection pick. The athleticism jumps out. So does the size. He moves well for a tackle his size, flashes strong recovery ability in pass protection, and has the kind of length that gives edge rushers problems. There is also real reason to believe his best football is still ahead of him.

That said, he is not a finished product. He still needs refinement, especially as a run blocker, and he is the kind of prospect who would benefit from time in an NFL strength program. But that is exactly why the Eagles would make sense as a landing spot. This is a team built to develop linemen without forcing them onto the field before they are ready.

If Philadelphia went this route, the reaction would probably be mixed at first. Some fans would be annoyed they passed on the secondary again. Others would immediately talk themselves into another offensive lineman success story. Both reactions would be fair.

Still, if PFF is right and the Eagles do go with Monroe Freeling, the vision is easy to see. This would be a long-term investment in keeping the offensive line elite, not just for 2026, but for the years after that too. And if there is one lesson Eagles fans should know by now, it is this: when in doubt, bet on the trenches.