Mason Graham figures to be a top-10 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft following a stellar career at Michigan. Here’s a look at Graham’s draft profile and what he can bring to the table in the pros:
If the Michigan Wolverines have proven anything recently, it’s they can identify and develop talent along the defensive line. Whether it be run-stuffing defensive tackles or quarterback-swarming edge rushers, the Wolverines always have plenty of strong contributors along their defensive fronts.
Perhaps the most talented we’ve seen recently is Mason Graham, a relatively unheralded four-star recruit from Southern California that eventually blossomed into one of the best tackles in Michigan history. After completing his highly successful stint in college, Graham figures to be one of the first — if not the first — defensive tackle taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, potentially in the first five picks.
Graham’s appeal comes from his combination of productivity — which he’s had plenty of over the last three years — as well as his physical traits. With defensive tackle becoming an even more important position in the NFL, he has plenty of value as a prospect.
Quick Facts
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 296 pounds
Arm Length: 32”
Draft Day Age: 21 years old
Career stats: 39 games, 108 tackles (18 for loss), 9 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Strengths
- Quickness off the ball and strong hands to keep offensive linemen on their heels.
- Strong instincts and football IQ get him to the right places at the right time.
- Already a solid pass rusher in addition to his skills against the run.
- High motor keeps him involved in every play and helps him defeat double and triple teams.
- Strong anchor to keep him firmly in gaps in the run game.
Weaknesses
- Slightly undersized at 296 pounds, 24 pounds lighter than what Michigan listed him last fall.
- Short arms could keep him from getting hands on bigger offensive linemen.
- While he’s a solid pass rusher at the college level, he doesn’t have a package of moves yet to help him against NFL offensive linemen.
- Pad level can get a bit high at times.
- Could improve as a tackler — while he consistently plugs gaps and gets in the backfield, he doesn’t always finish the play.
Summary
Graham is exactly the type of prospect NFL organizations are looking for. He plays a premium position, is highly athletic, improved each year in college, and is still young (he won’t turn 22 until September). All those traits contribute to the notion he’ll be one of the first few players taken in the draft.
He played a rotational role as a true freshman before becoming a starter during his sophomore season. That was the year Graham truly broke out and got on NFL radars. He continued to progress into his junior season and cemented his status as a likely top-10 pick.
Throughout his career, Graham has been an asset in the run game, as his high motor and great football instincts help get him into the right lanes at the right time to help shut down plays. His strength and anchor help him hold strong in gaps as well. With several NFL teams becoming more run-centric on offense, having a player like Graham on defense would be a huge plus.
While his major strength is in the run game, he’s not too shabby against the pass either. Graham’s athleticism and speed help him get by interior offensive linemen with ease and put pressure on quarterbacks. While he’s already solid in this area, there’s room for improvement, especially against the tougher competition of NFL offensive linemen.
Teams should look no further than Graham’s 2024 performance against Ohio State, where he almost singlehandedly kept the Buckeye offense off schedule for four quarters, regularly besting some of the best offensive linemen in college football.
Michigan DT Mason Graham put on a 1 min highlight reel by himself against Ohio State. Dominant performance for a top-5 player in this NFL Draft class. pic.twitter.com/HXUdsgfyuC
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) December 2, 2024
There’s a lot to like about Graham’s physical traits and productivity, and he’s the type of player that should continue to get better with age. If there’s an area to nit pick, it’s his size, as he weighed in at 296 pounds with 32-inch arms at the NFL Combine. Those numbers aren’t ideal for an NFL defensive tackle, but he has the skills to make up for it.