Defensive Tackle Mason Graham Needs to Put it Altogether

Michigan defensive tackle (DT) Mason Graham is an inconsistent gap shooter.

There are scattered plays here and there where he blows things up and takes over.

Then there’s the rest of the time…

Those are the times Graham disappears for stretches of game film. That summarizes what it was like watching this rotational interior defensive lineman in every snap he took last season.

These are the types of evaluations that are harder (and more frustrating) because he shows he can do it, but he doesn’t do it consistently.

NFL Draft Crystal Ball

This is also one of the trickier evaluations because if someone only watches a highlight film of Graham, he looks like an absolute beast and that’s how these other draft platforms have graded him, all giving him a top-15 grade (nflmockdraftdatabase.com):

• CBS (No. 3)
• Fox Sports (No. 3)
• The Athletic (No. 3)
• Draftwire (No. 4)
• 33rd Team (No. 7)
• NBC Sports (No. 8)
• Bleacher Report (No. 13)
• Walter Football (No. 14)
• Sports Illustrated (No. 15)

Not taking anything away from Graham, but he’s no Jalen Carter (Georgia DT 2023 NFL Draft No. 9 overall to the Eagles). I loved Carter coming out. He wrecked five to six plays a game for the Bulldogs and was my No. 1 player on my draft board that year. Graham is more ‘in the mold’ of former FSU and current Rams’ DT Braden Fiske (who I loved) and projected predraft going late first-round. Fiske ended up going in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft (No. 39). With that said, Graham is not as tenacious as Fiske.

While Graham came on some toward the end of the season, he cooled off against Alabama and Washington, which kept my grade from rising. He had a harder time penetrating those offensive lines.

Why does he disappear on film?

That’s the ‘million dollar question,’ concerning Graham, and I believe I’ve figured out the answer.

Granted, he draws a lot of double-teams. How about the rest of the time?

It’s his technique and it needs to improve this season and become consistent to move up the board. It’s also a varying intensity level that I see out of him.

Graham only flashes pass-rush moves and the ability to shed blocks against the run.

There’s also another reason.

Lack of bull rush power

Graham’s whole mission in life is to find a gap to shoot or a crease to throw his weight into.

He does not put offensive linemen on skates and power them back into the quarterback’s face.

This prospect also runs a lot of “X” stunts (when two defenders cross essentially and flow to where the other defender lined up pre-snap and rush the passer from that position) looking for a way into the pocket.

He was stalemated one-on-one straight-up against an offensive lineman. His whole thing is gap-shooting.

What does he have going for him?

He has excellent athletic ability (especially for his size), he plays the run well and he can be disruptive on passing plays.

There’s a premium on pocket disruption.

Graham is more of a pressure guy (29) than a sack guy (3.0).

#55 Mason Graham 6-foot-3, 318 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Summer Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 84.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of August 22, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: East Carolina, UNLV, Bowling Green, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Penn State, Maryland, Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, and Washington (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Oppotunistic thick and stout athletic defensive tackle with decent building short-area speed. Cocky personality shows through on tape. Produces splash plays. Equally distributed frame. Flashes good hand usage at the point of attack. More brute sled strength than explosive power from hips. Persistent. Signature swim move. Flashes spin. Seeks leverage and then crashes in. Excellent pocket adjustments. Inconsistent shed against the run. Slight tendency to be fooled by misdirection. Hits like a ton of bricks. Immovable legit run defender. Fights to get involved.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. Better command of pass rush moves?

2. Sack and pressure numbers?

3. Overall consistency?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.