Mason Graham is the first Michigan player taken in 2025 NFL Draft

Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham might not look like the most imposing lineman in U-M history, but he was one of the best … and many would say the best they ever saw in the winged helmet. The Wolverines’ junior and early entry was rewarded with several individual honors in addition to being a National Champion and two-time Big Ten champion, and most recently as first round NFL Draft pick, going No. 5 overall to Cleveland Browns, who acquired the pick in a trade back with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Graham finished his three years at Michigan with 108 tackles, nine sacks, 18 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble, and yet his numbers don’t come close to describing his impact. The Wolverines’ defense was nearly impossible to run on during his tenure, and he was a huge part.

NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah gushed about Graham on the broadcast.

“He’s my fourth overall player, so I love the value they’re getting here,” Jeremiah stated.” This is a guy with a wrestling background who is unbelievable against the run. You cannot move him at the point of attack. He plays with incredible leverage, and then he also flashes this ability, as he showed against Alabama, to penetrate, make his way into the backfield. Just a dominant player against the run.

“Pass rush-wise, I think there’s more growth to come there, but he shows in flashes when he can get on the edge and get to the half of a man, that he’s a load to block.

“He has an unending gas tank. He plays so hard from the beginning of the game to the end of the game, and he’s one of the most productive, consistent players in this draft class.”

Analyst Joel Klatt, who called many of Michigan’s games when Graham was on the team over the last three years, also loves the pick.

“I think about the last 15 years in college football, I think of the most disruptive and impactful defensive tackles that I’ve seen. Ndamukong Suh comes to mind. Nick Fairley comes to mind at Auburn. And Mason Graham.

“He is always on his feet, he is powerful, he’s got a great attitude and he’s got a tough attitude. He will walk in, and his confidence just as an interior defensive lineman will ooze to every other defender there, knowing that, hey, he’s gonna make the linebackers better, he’s gonna make the safeties better, he’s gonna make everybody better in that defense.

“There are only a few times when I’ve been in the booth calling a game and saying, ‘Hey, the defensive tackles won the game.’ And they did that against Ohio State, the national champions. They kept trying to run the football, and Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham just kept throwing their guards onto the ground and making tackles. They single-handedly won that game in Columbus.”

Desmond Howard, a Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan and ESPN analyst, harkened back to some early comments by former head man Jim Harbaugh.

“When he first came to Michigan, Harbaugh said the football gods shined on me with two gifts … he was one of the gifts,” Howard said. “He used to play soccer and run people over… he’s never looked back. He’s a great player and better person.”

Though the 2024 season didn’t go as he’d hoped, Graham had a great season to bolster his draft stock. He was expected to be the first defensive tackle taken, and he was.

“I feel like there’s a lot to remember,” Graham said in the weeks before the draft. “I went from the highs to the lows, winning national championships and not even making the playoffs. I feel like everyone that comes to Michigan is like minded, has similar goals … winning national championships, Big Ten championships, beating Ohio State. 

“I feel like just the guys on my team as a freshman — Mazi Smith, Kris Jenkins —  just learning from those type of guys, and then just progressing myself as a player. On the same effect, I hope guys look up to me and try to recreate what me and some of my other teammates did.”

NFL Network Analyst Daniel Jeremiah told reporters before the draft anyone who saw him play understands how good Graham really is, even if he doesn’t have the typical NFL tackle body. Some have called him “undersized” after he dropped a little weight, but anyone who saw him play knows he never got pushed around.

“He just doesn’t cut that image,” he said. “He doesn’t have that body type. But I watched him on tape and I fell in love with him. He’s just a real aggressive player … he can dominate against the run, and I think has more to offer as a pass rusher. He’s got crazy elite leverage, balance and instincts.

“I hope people don’t overthink it with him,” Jeremiah concluded. “He’s just really, really good.”

The Browns didn’t, and now have a defensive tackle they hope will be part of their franchise and help them win for a long, long time.