OBR publisher Barry McBride is skeptical about mock drafts, often more so as the draft nears. But there’s one player who is rising in the mock drafts where that movement makes perfect sense. It’s the OBR Daily Newswire for March 23, 2026.
I’m usually pretty skeptical about draft “risers” during the month of February and March, since I view it as a symptom of groupthink where a prominent mock drafter gets enthusiastic about a player, and other mock drafters don’t want to be left behind, so they follow.
Most of the mock drafts you see out there are products of groupthink rather than the independent analysis of a single person. Heck, I only really track Ohio State and the Big Ten during the season, but I could throw out a mock draft pretty easily by adapting what the consensus of mock drafters is saying. I honestly think this is how most mock drafters operate, but they’re always popular articles, so they flow like water this time of year. The other reason I’m skeptical about “draft risers” is my experience with the ahead-of-its-time Mock Draft Muncher, a tool I created years and years ago that measured the accuracy of mock drafts throughout the process. The MDM died when CBS boughtOne common finding of the MDM was that mock drafts were actually more accurate in February than they were right before the draft. Part of this is groupthink leading them astray, but the other part is an overreaction to the NFL Combine and Pro Days, whereas teams seem to focus more on the actual game tape when making career-defining decisions. Once players get through the Combine, mock drafts are compelled to react to broad jump scores and move players around more than NFL teams seem to. All of which could lead one to dismiss the rapid rise of Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling, who is frequently now mocked to the Browns at their number six pick. Earlier this year, Mel Kiper, for example, had Freeling ranked 29th, meaning the Browns could have had him at pick #24 from Jacksonville. Freeling has soared in the weeks since, and now is regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the draft.First, Freeling’s Combine wasn’t just good; it was incredible. We all know that Andrew Berry seems to be influenced by RAS scores, and Freeling ripped off an eye-popping 9.99 RAS score. As close to perfect as you can get. The 6’7”, 315-pound tackle ran a 4.93 40, which is eye-popping for someone his size. Secondly, he’s up against Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano at the top of the tackle class, who both have been playing on the right side, and Freeling is a natural fit on the left side. Moreover, Freeling took draft analysts by surprise. Most weren’t prepared for him to declare, and he surprised them by coming out for the draft rather than waiting for 2027. The immediate knee-jerk reaction was that his experience was too limited with just 17 career starts, but watching the tape quickly dispelled that notion, although limited experience is still a legitimate knock against him. His tape also showed a player who battled some injuries in 2025, and analysts seem convinced that his true level of play will be higher. So, I guess the question is whether Freeling’s rise will continue to the point where the Browns would be picking too late at #6. The consensus top lineman appears to be Francis Mauigoa, who might not have some of the most impressive measureables, but played at a high level all season. If a team is looking at left tackle specifically, however, there’s an argument to be made that Freeling has the higher ceiling. All of which makes this an interesting subplot for the NFL draft. We may have gone from “Freeling late in the first” to worrying whether he’ll still be there at #6. This one time, that draft rise may not be a matter of how mocks work, but the true value of a player emerging from the process.Black holes are terrifying and mind-bending in the perversion of their power. A gravitational force so strong that nothing can escape, even light. In what kind of evil universe does such a thing make sense? But here’s a new theory: black holes might be the reason our universe exists. Makes one wonder if everything in the universe - even its most destructive aspect - has a purpose after all. I don’t know about you, but I like the idea that something as mind-blowingly terrifying as a black hole made our existence possible. Everything makes sense if you believe that the Universe exists for a purpose. Except mosquitoes, which exist just to annoy me. I don’t see the purpose in that.When not starting to finally pay attention to mock drafts, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on TwitterEast Canton shuts down unlicensed day care facility after 8-month-old baby diesCleveland restaurant owner pleads guilty to misusing Covid funds, writing bad checks to employeesCleveland Browns News and Rumors 03/22/26: The Plainly Obvious Remains Plainly ObviousBazzana’s two-homer day not enough as Giants outlast Guardians in desert heat
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