After shocking the NFL world by trading out of the No. 2 overall pick, the Cleveland Browns turned heads again by passing on quarterback Shedeur Sanders just minutes later. Instead, the Browns added to their already-impressive defensive line with Michigan standout Mason Graham.
Graham will partner with six-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Myles Garrett to give the AFC North outfit one of the top defensive lines in the league.
Cleveland Browns Select Defensive Tackle Mason Graham No. 5 Overall
The Browns had been widely expected to be drafting either Cam Ward or Sanders with the second overall pick, with the team guaranteed to have at least one of them on the board.
Recently, though, whispers that the team would pass on the quarterback position in Round 1 began to emerge. Still, the Browns were then expected to take a blue-chip prospect, with both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter likely to be available.
But fter Cleveland stunned fans by trading out of the second overall pick just eight minutes into the draft, the team wasn’t done with the surprises. With Sanders still on the board, the Browns passed on the opportunity once more, instead selecting Graham.
Getting STRONGER in the trenches 💪
Welcome to Cleveland, Mason Graham! pic.twitter.com/r0t0I5kBsv
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns)
What Does Graham Bring to Cleveland?
While not quite rated as a blue-chip prospect, Graham is an NFL-ready difference-maker who will be able to contribute in a big way from Day 1. His PFSN draft profile gives Browns fans a glimpse of what they can expect from their new star.
“Mason Graham is a well-built interior disruptor with outstanding first-step quickness and good overall athleticism. He lacks prototypical length for the position but makes up for it with quickness, power, and instincts. As a pass rusher, Graham displays elite explosiveness and penetration ability, stressing interior offensive linemen up gaps.
“He can create angle advantages with his burst and agility, and then capitalize on mismatches with his violent torque and power output. Graham is a very loose mover for his size and shows outstanding body control and flexibility, and his low center of gravity infuses his leverage game in both phases. His middling length can cause him to lurch at times, but overall, he’s a phenomenal two-phase prospect with impact starter upside.”
Pre-draft, Graham was widely expected to be taken with the fifth overall pick. Ironically, Hunter was expected to be taken at No. 2. Both players have fulfilled those expectations, yet find themselves heading to completely different teams than was initially predicted.
