NFL draft: One prospect that should be discussed for the Browns #2 pick

NFL draft rumors swirling this DL candidate has the potential to ‘wreck’ backfields

The 2025 NFL college draft is just over a month away. The Cleveland Browns own the second overall pick in Round 1, the first selection in Round 2, and the third slot in Round 3. That is three picks in the first 64 players off the board.

A lot of speculation has been tied to the #2 overall spot.

The main prospects are QB Cam Ward from Miami, Penn State DE Abdul Carter, WR/CB Travis Hunter and QB Shedeur Sanders, both out of Colorado.

RELATED: DRAFT PROFILE: DT MASON GRAHAM – MICHIGAN

And while all of these players will improve the roster of the Browns, there is one guy who isn’t getting his due as far as being a viable candidate for that second pick: DT Mason Graham of Michigan.

Graham (6’-3”, 320 pounds) plays a position of need for Cleveland in that the defensive tackle room has been pegged as the group that needs the most attention after the quarterback.

Beginning in 2023, it was a focus for the defense to be able to stop the run which was quite the opposite for several seasons. Brown GM Andrew Berry signed DT Dalvin Tomlinson to a huge contract in 2023 just for this purpose. He also brought in numerous veterans such as Malik Jackson, Sheldon Day, Maurice Hurst, Shelby Harris, and Quinton Jefferson to plug the gaps and end the habit of opponents to gash the inside for sizable gains.

DC Jim Schwartz has done his best to fix this. But it just wasn’t working as Berry was providing him with guys like Siaka Ika, Jordan Elliott, and Trysten Hill. Not to mention Tomlinson never did pan out and provide what his massive contract was paying him for. Eventually, he was released with time left on his contract. In the meantime, Harris was given a one-year extension that covers the 2025 season with a cap hit of $2.778 million and an option year for 2026.

What has hurt the Browns defensive middle is that both Mo Hurst and Harris have been hurt repeatedly and ended up on IR. This meant plugging the hole with rookies such as Mike Hall and Jowon Briggs, or Michael Dwumfour who was signed from St. Louis of the UFL.

Currently, Hurst is a free agent while Dwumfour is an exclusive rights free agent.

RELATED: LIST OF BROWNS 2025 FREE AGENTS

In the off-season, Berry signed Ralph Holley, Jr. from the Toronto Argonauts plus inked Maliek Collins of the San Francisco 49ers.

But what about adding a stud at the defensive tackle position? With the exception of Harris, it is already a youth movement.

Graham would be a shot into the defensive line and provide a steady dose of both run support and pass rush. He is an impact player and has the ability to elevate his play against elite competition.

He is also a former wrestling champion at Servite High School in Anaheim, California. Graham won two Trinity League heavyweight titles which has given him the foundation for his exceptional leverage and hand-fighting abilities. Both techniques are his calling card.

Wrestling gives offensive and defensive linemen an advantage because it teaches hand fighting at an elite level and foot positioning. Both are necessary attributes along the line in order to impart power-first techniques. Graham’s wrestling pedigree shows up consistently in his pad level and hand placement.

Another advantage Graham possesses is the fact that he played both ways in high school. Having been a starter on the offensive line has given him that perspective.

With a drawer full of offers, he chose to play for Michigan where they settled him on defense. That began his journey which he started three years as a powerful, well-rounded 3-technique defensive tackle. He ultimately became a dominant player.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com described Graham:

“Graham’s first-step quickness makes interior disruption inevitable. He has harmonious hands and feet are the catalyst for his edge-to-edge counters.”

As far as Graham’s best attributes, he will describe that he is equally adept at playing both the run and having a consistent pass rush. But his pass-rushing skills really do shine and are what he feels he is good at.

Even in his freshman year at Michigan, there were signs that he would gel into an exceptional athlete. He was named to the True Freshman All-America team by Pro Football Focus. In that season he became the starter and had 27 total tackles with 2.5 sacks.

As a sophomore, he appeared in all 13 games as the starter with 36 tackles, 3 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and 7.5 tackles for loss. He was named First Team All-Big 10 and selected Second Team All-American. In the Rose Bowl, Graham was voted Defensive MVP. The following week, Michigan won the National Championship.

Entering his junior season, Graham was ranked as the best interior defensive lineman in college football by the media. He ended the season with 45 total tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, one batted pass, and 3.5 sacks.

At season’s end, he was a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Once again he was named First Team All-Big 10 and selected Unanimous All-American. He was also 3-0 against Ohio State and 3-0 versus Michigan State, their biggest rivals.

As a player, Graham has that explosive first step that makes life difficult for centers and guards. He shows rare lateral movement for such a big man and is a masterful hand fighter. It should also be noted he runs a 4.97 in the 40.

His X handle is @MasonGraham_55.

Scouting report on NFL.com:

Positives

• Plays with a non-stop motor and easy movement.
• Gets into blockers before they can get into their action.
• Compact power with instant punch and ability to extend at the point.
• Lateral quickness to eliminate reach blocks and penetrate the gaps.
• Former wrestler with a feel for leverage through contact.
• Range and hustle feed his tackle production.
• Relentless edge to edge as a rusher.

Negatives

• Built with a burly frame and stubby arms.
• Lack of length creates additional work to get around wide bodies.
• Not enough bull-rush to collapse guards into the pocket.

Is the second overall spot too high for the Browns to select Graham? Probably. Is the #2 spot too high to choose a defensive tackle? Most likely. Would the Browns get a difference-maker at the second pick by taking Graham? Definitely.

Graham has the potential to be one of the best defensive tackle prospects to come out of college in the last 10 years. He offers a combination of strength and athleticism that gives Cleveland a high ceiling as a productive player that is sorely needed on the interior.

If stopping the run is a definite goal for Schwartz, then with Berry taking Graham he will provide the defense with a guy who is going to put pressure on offensive linemen immediately and has the agility to throw off linemen’s angles when slanting. Graham is especially adept at slants in order to get into the offensive backfield, plus he has the core strength at the point of attack to control blocks.

Graham at the second overall spot may not become a reality, but Berry can always find a trade partner and slide down a few spots in order to grab him. Graham has been projected as a Top-5 pick in most mock drafts.

The Michigan star has been called a “brick wall” on defense with a huge work ethic. When the Browns won 11 games in 2023, the defense was ranked #1 in the league. He would help Schwartz reclaim that status.

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Do you think Mason Graham should be in discussions for the second overall pick for the Browns in this year’s NFL draft?