PITTSBURGH — With the NFL draft hours away, the inevitable occurrence of high risers and steep fallers is unfolding before our eyes. Every draft has its share of surprises, and this one is no diffe…
It’s almost laughable that a player regarded as the best prospect in the entire draft would be considered a riser at this stage. But that is how it goes these days when you’re talking about a running back.
QB's personality trait could hurt him in NFL draft: 'Sense this guy is a villain'The way that position is viewed in today’s analytically driven world, teams are no longer keen on drafting them in the top 10, let alone the top three. That isn’t taking anything away from Love, who is a one-man wrecking crew as a runner and a receiver; it’s just the nature of the beast.
Simply put, the positional value just isn’t there anymore, compared with years ago when it was standard practice to draft a running back within the first three picks. Love might buck that recent trend, though, with his Superman capabilities just too enticing in a draft that isn’t deep at quarterback and isn’t expected to produce an elite, can’t-miss player at edge rusher, cornerback or wide receiver.
It’s why the link between Love and the Cardinals, who pick third in the first round, seems to get stronger by the day. If not them, the Titans at No. 4 and the Giants at No. 5 are also considered strong possibilities. That is a far cry from a couple of months ago, when Love was projected to get selected at the bottom of the top 10, if not lower.
This one has been brewing for a little while, with the splash Thieneman made with an epic athletic performance at the NFL scouting combine catching everyone’s eyes and forcing them to go back to watch the game film. Thieneman produced high-level numbers at two different schools while starting for three straight years. Between his two seasons at Purdue and his one year at Oregon, he racked up 302 tackles and showed ball-hawking abilities with eight interceptions in his career.
Once the stopwatch and tape measure came into play, it was a done deal. You can’t fake the 4.37-second 40 or a 41-inch vertical leap Thieneman put on display at the combine. The stunning athletic ability, coupled with the high-level production, means Thieneman continues to shoot up the draft board and now could be selected within the top 12 picks.
Based on the eyeball test, Freeling is a no-doubter, standing at 6-foot-7, weighing 315 pounds and putting a solid season together last year at left tackle for the Bulldogs. But he falls under the recommended level of experience that NFL teams typically adhere to when it comes to the draft.
Freeling spent just one season as the Bulldogs’ everyday left tackle, and he has just 13 career starts If there is anything that gives talent evaluators anxiety heading into the draft, it’s medical records and time on task. The more games someone plays, the more uncertainty is removed from the evaluation. The fewer games played, the bigger the risk becomes.
What changed the calculus for Freeling, and why he is pushing up the draft board, is the real-time improvement he made throughout the season. And the fact that he is a mountain of a man who moves like a ballet dancer. He just kept getting better from a technical, fluidity and play-level standpoint, which gives teams hope that he will continue to get better at the next level.
And, well, there just aren’t humans as big as he is that move as well as he does. He isn’t the best tackle available in the first round. But three years from now, he has a chance to be the best tackle from this entire draft. Maybe by a country mile.
It’s why more and more teams are coming around to taking him far higher than they may have imagined a few months ago. Don’t be surprised if Freeling’s name gets called in the upper half of the first round. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Unchosen' On Netflix, Where A Woman In A Christian Cult Meets An Escaped Convict And Her Views Start To Change
Sports Arizona Cardinals California Nfl Draft 2026
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2026 NFL Draft: 8 Prospects Who Will Make This Draft One to RememberThis draft class has taken some hits, but here are eight prospects, including CMC clone Eli Heidenreich, who will be fun to watch as pros.
Read more »
2026 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: Carnell Tate Is The First Wide Receiver Off The BoardA first-round dynasty fantasy football rookie mock draft before the 2026 NFL Draft.
Read more »
How Ohio State Could Make NFL Draft History With Top 2026 NFL Draft PicksFOX Sports' RJ Young breaks down how Ohio State could make NFL Draft history on Thursday with first-round picks.
Read more »
Column: How important the 2026 NFL Draft can be to the 2026 Chicago BearsOn Thursday, another draft like the 2025 draft class could vault the Bears to where they want to go. That’s where the Bears have always wanted to be under Ryan Poles.
Read more »
2026 NFL Draft Odds: Draft Positions for Ty Simpson, Jeremiyah Love, MoreFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
NFL Draft 2026 Seahawks coverage: Picks, analysis, reports, live updates, moreComplete coverage of the Seattle Seahawks at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh!
Read more »