CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns didn’t mess around at the 2025 NFL Draft, locking in Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the fifth overall pick on April 24. In a draft buzzing with quarterback chatter and offensive fireworks, the Browns doubled down on their gritty identity, betting big on a 6-foot-3, 320-pound wrecking ball to clog the middle of their defensive line.
Graham, a 21-year-old junior out of Anaheim, California, was no surprise pick. NFL scouts had been drooling over his tape for months, pegging him as a top-10 lock. The kid’s a technician—low center of gravity, hands like sledgehammers, and a knack for sniffing out plays before the ball’s even snapped. At Michigan, he racked up 87 solo tackles and 9.5 sacks over three seasons, anchoring a Wolverines defense that steamrolled to a national title in 2023. His final college game, a Rose Bowl loss to Alabama, saw him disrupt four plays in the backfield, a stat line that had Browns GM Andrew Berry nodding approvingly from the draft room.
Cleveland’s decision came after a calculated trade-back maneuver, sliding from the No. 3 spot in a deal with an undisclosed team. The move gave the Browns extra draft capital while still landing their guy. Graham, who declared for the draft on January 15, 2025, after Michigan’s season ended, fills a glaring need for a franchise that’s been hemorrhaging yards up the gut. Last season, Cleveland’s run defense ranked 22nd in the league, coughing up 128.4 yards per game on the ground. Graham’s arrival signals a clear intent to slam that door shut.
The pick was announced to a roaring crowd at the draft’s host site in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reading Graham’s name to a mix of cheers and curious murmurs. Browns fans, some still stinging from a 7-10 season, took to the streets outside Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium, where watch parties buzzed with cautious optimism. Graham, who watched the draft from his family’s home in California, was on a video call with head coach Kevin Stefanski within minutes, already talking scheme.
A three-year starter at Michigan, Graham earned All-Big Ten honors twice and was a 2024 Butkus Award finalist. His 95% missed-tackle avoidance rate, per NFL analytics, makes him a nightmare for running backs trying to slip past. He’s expected to slide into Cleveland’s 4-3 defense as a nose tackle, pairing with veteran Dalvin Tomlinson to create a formidable front.
Graham becomes the highest-drafted defensive lineman in Browns history since Myles Garrett went No. 1 in 2017. He’s slated to report to rookie minicamp in Berea, Ohio, on May 9, with his first contract—a four-year deal with a fifth-year option—projected to be finalized by late May. The Browns’ next pick comes at No. 37 in the second round, where they’re eyeing offensive line help.