""You're building it, essentially, for a year every year. From the spring to the season to the combine, pro days, visits and back around to the next spring, when the scouts are looking at the calendar to see the first places they're going to go.""
""The actual rise of a prospect up draft boards is a multi-month process that consists of on-field production and predraft work.""
""Scouts who monitor the SEC said they could see Freeling's pass-protection technique improve in real time. His hand placement got better throughout the season against some of the most explosive defensive players on this draft board.""
""Some of it is physics. He has rare fluidity in his lower body for a player of his size, which contributes to his improved performance and draft stock.""
The construction of an NFL draft board is a year-long process that begins in spring and continues through the season, culminating in the draft. Player evaluations and rankings evolve based on on-field performance and predraft activities, making significant changes rare. As the 2026 NFL draft approaches, several players have notably improved their draft stock since the 2025 season. One standout is Freeling, who transitioned from a potential Day 2 pick to a solid first-round candidate due to his performance and technique improvements against top competition.
Read at ESPN.com
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