Every year, it seems there’s at least one surprise pick in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft that sends shockwaves throughout the entire mock. Welcome to that pick.
The Cleveland Browns are appropriately the wild card in our 2026 community mock, and the acting general manager for the Browns is POD commenter Col.Aureliano. Before we get into their pick, here’s how the board has fallen for the first five picks:
With the sixth pick in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Monroe Freeling, offensive tackle out of Georgia.
Here’s Col.Aureliano explaining the pick:
I’m sure the picture with this article reveals the surprise, but if not, Monroe Freeling is my OT1. Surprise!
Many of the mocks I have seen are slotting a WR to the Browns, and other than Carnell Tate, I could have had my pick. However, I am still not certain who my QB will be, let alone how well he will be able to deliver the ball, so a WR frankly seemed stupid. There were two defensive players (Rueben Bain and Caleb Downs) that caused me so much pause that I am sure Jeremy was getting quite annoyed waiting for my pick to come in. However, I had to let them go in order to stick with my plan.
Cleveland has rebuilt 80% of their OL this offseason. They need to finish the job in the draft. Even if you accept that premise, a few of you are likely shaking your head saying, “What the frak? If you’re going OT, take Francis Mauigoa!” I absolutely would love to take Mauigoa… for the Lions. However, Cleveland just made a trade to put Tytus Howard in on the right side of the line, and while I think Mauigoa could make the move to the left, why would I have him do so when Freeling is an equally good player who naturally plays that side? The Browns need look no further than down the road in Cincinnati to learn what an explosive receiver without a stud tackle will do for you.
The knock on Freeling is his limited experience, but he started 17 games and played in 35. By contrast, Sewell only played/started 20 games in his college career. Those 35 games were at Georgia too. In my mind, OT and QB are the most important positions to weigh college competition in the draft process, and he faced high level players at practice and in games. Yes, he needs work, but let’s be honest, the whole team needs work. That makes this an even better fit as he will have time to develop. I am a believer that establishing the OL is always job #1 and I think Freeling gives you 10+ years to lock down the left side.
This is certainly our first big unorthodox pick so far, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad one. What are your thoughts? Grade the pick in the poll below, and share your overall opinion in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
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