Panthers HC Dave Canales shares early impressions of team's 1st-round pick

For the second straight year, the Carolina Panthers threw a curveball in the first round of the NFL Draft. Instead of picking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman—like many predicted—they went with Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling at No. 19 overall.

The 6-foot-7, 318-pound Freeling comes to Carolina with a 99th-percentile athletic profile and a championship pedigree. There's no doubt that the organization has a vision for their very potent hog molly.What is less clear, however, is where Freeling will start out his career.

Having played mostly left tackle in college, that's the most logical spot. However, veteran Rasheed Walker is expected to get first-team reps when training camp begins in July.That doesn't mean Freeling hasn't impressed, though.

Here's head coach Dave Canales sharing his early impressions of Freeling, per Joe Person at The Athletic:“I’ve seen him learn how fast this thing moves up front and what it’s like to try to block Derrick Brown on the backside of a run, and how right that first step has to be,” Canales said. “I’ve also seen him be really comfortable in space and pass pro because how big and athletic he is. Holds the point in the run game when we run at him.”

In addition to competing with Walker on the blindside, Freeling has put in some snaps at right tackle, as well. That makes him the team's most logical option to start the year out as their swing tackle—making him the next man up if either Taylor Moton or Walker goes down with an injury.Speaking of the blindside, fifth-year starter Ickey Ekwonu is expected to begin training camp on the PUP list.

But Person reports that Ekwonu is "crushing" his rehab, according to Canales.No matter who stars Week 1, the Panthers' investment in Freeling makes him their logical long-term left tackle.Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers HC Dave Canales shares impressions of OT Monroe Freeling