Mason Graham is a huge name if you keep up with college football the last two years, especially if you’ve kept up with NFL Draft buzz this season. Graham has been consistently mocked in the top 10 of mock drafts dating back to “way too early-“ mocks last summer. Now, I still have Mason Graham’s top 10 on my big board. I still think that he’ll likely go to the top 10 in the draft. My quarrel with Graham’s hype is this assumption that he is a “sure-fire thing,” “elite,” or even “generational.” There have been two apparent themes regarding Mason Graham. One is that this DL class is absolutely STACKED, and that’s completely true. I have never seen a DT draft class like this of both DTs and NTs. The other theme is that Graham has somehow separated himself from the rest of the class “by far and away the best DT in the class”. This is where I say we gotta cool our jets for two main reasons. For one Mason Graham has weaknesses and red flags. He is not Abdul Carter who is damn near a flawless prospect for his position. Secondly, other DTs are arguably better on day 1 and/or have more upside than Graham. Now allow me to introduce you to the consensus Big 3 of DTs this year. The majority of people have Graham 1. I’ve seen some say Nolan is their DT1 or at least tied with Graham. For me, I actually have Derrick Harmon as my DT1. However, it is all very close, all in the same tier together.
Measurables
Mason Graham: 6’3, 32-inch arms, 21 years old, 24 reps bench press (below avg.)
Walter Nolen: 6’4, 296, 32.5-inch arms, 21 years old
Derrick Harmon: 6’4, 313 lbs., 34-inch arms, 21 years old, 4.95 40-yard dash (avg.)
Production
Mason Graham:
2025 Stats: 3.5 Sacks, 9 QB Hits, 20 Hurries, 7 TFL, 23 Solo Tackles, 45 Total Tackles, 1 PD, PFF Grade 91
2024 Stats: 3.0 Sacks, 8 TFL, 23 ST, 36 TT, 1 PD, 1 FF
Walter Nolan:
2025: 6.5 Sacks, 4 Hits, 25 Hurries, 14 TFL, 25 ST, 48 TT, 3 PD, 2 FR, PFF Grade 89
2024: 4.0 Sacks, 20 ST, 37 TT, 9 TFL, 1 PD (For Texas AM)
Derrick Harmon: 2025: 5.0 Sacks, 7 Hits, 43 Hurries, 27 ST, 45 TT, 11 TFL, 4 PD, 2 FF, 2 FR, PFF Grade 84 2024: 1.5 Sacks, 16 ST, 40 TT, 4 TFL, 1 PD, 1 FF
Conclusion: But now let’s talk stats. I’ll just call it what it is. Mason Graham is not that productive. Nolan had almost as many sacks this season as Graham had in the last two seasons. That is where Nolan thrives. He has ELITE get off. He uncoils and explodes with power into the backfield and wants to take the QB down. Texas A&M has become infamous for having extreme talent not producing statistically on the DL. But let’s give Ole Miss their credit for unlocking Nolan moving him around rushing off the edge or interior. But even more so give Nolan the credit I mean this guy was the number 1 recruit in his HS class for a reason. Which is why a lot of people think Nolan has the most potential out of these 3 guys. Harmon is a menace. He thrives at blowing up plays by getting into the backfield. Harmon had the MOST PRESSURES in all of college football for DTs. 25% more pressures than the 2nd most. He was also 6th in pass rush win rate in all of college for DTs. Harmon anchored Oregon’s defense and was THE main reasons they looked like the best team in college football for the majority of the season, cause it sure wasn’t Dillon Gabriel. His upside is mainly as a pass-rushing DT not NT. But also, out of the top 3 Harmon is by far the best run-stuffing DT, more equipped at absorbing double teams and lining up over the center to stuff the run. He is a TFL machine, with 15 TFLs in the last two seasons. He has great hand fighting which may be because of his longer arms than these other prospects. For DTs you wanna get as close to 35-inch arm length. Harmon also has 5 years of college experience while still being the same age as these guys with no injury concerns. Graham is a very fluid mover and thrives in running East to West preventing RBs or escaping QBs to getting past the 2nd level. That’s great… but not really an elite DT trait imo. I want DTs who can collapse the pocket. Get hands in the face of QBs and make life uncomfortable. Let the LBs run East to West and prevent explosive breakaways. His arms and height and shorter than what you want. It caused issues on film in the Big 10 what do you think its going to do in the NFL? I don’t think he has any upside as an Edge being moved across the line because NFL OTs will get their hands on him quickly. Then you gotta think about why he is being overrated the answer is obvious. The championship last year. Graham has a ring. A ring on a stacked team, and with a very similar team did awful this year after losing their HC and QB. Interesting. Graham was able to play alongside over 5-star and 4-star recruits as Michigan his entire career there. NFL prospects like Kenneth Grant, the best-run stuffer in the draft. Grant ALLOWED Graham the ability to go after the QB and not be exposed. Same with Kris Jenkins and Mazi Smith who were 2nd and 1st round DTs. Then you had Michigan DBs holding down the fort, Will Johnson, Mike Sinistral, and DJ Turner. All I’m saying it people should think more carefully about taking Mason Graham over these other DTs especially up in the top 5 when there is a RARE amount of day 2 talent at the DL position. Scout the player not the helmet, not the name, and def not the ring.