Arguably the top defensive tackle duo in college football has been Michigan’s pairing of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.
Both players figure to be first-round selections in the 2025 [NFL Draft](https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft), should they both declare. While I’ll make my way around to making an article about Grant in the coming weeks, it’s Graham I wanted to focus on to start. A second-team All-American and a national champion as a true sophomore in 2023, he came into the 2024 season with extremely high expectations.
Though the Wolverines failed to repeat their level of successes from last year, Graham had no problem maintaining his level of excellence. Heading into bowl season, he has 45 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7.0 tackles for a loss and 20 hurries. He figures to be an All-American for the second year in a row.
What exactly does Graham do well, though? How does he fare against some of the top defensive tackles to come out of college these last few years? Let’s explore this by breaking down one of the top defenders in the 2025 NFL Draft.
_Games scouted: vs._ [_Ohio State_](https://www.landgrantholyland.com)_, 2023; vs. Washington, 2023; vs. Fresno State, 2024; vs. Texas, 2024_
### Strengths
* PFF grades above 90.0 in each of his last two seasons
* Defensive line versatility with the ability to kick inside as a 1-tech and as far out as a 5-tech
* Has an explosive first step and he times his get-off very well
* Athleticism stands out with his burst off the snap and ability to penetrate the A and B gaps
* Plays with a super high motor on a consistent basis
* Hand activity and his ability to keep his legs churning at the point of attack both speak to how hard he plays
* Offers rare backside run support value for an interior defensive lineman because of his effort and speed in open space
* Has great lateral quickness for a 320-pounder, which helps out on stunts and when he needs to work outside a guard’s hip as a pass-rusher
* At 6-foot-3, he’s just big enough to overcome size concerns but not so tall that a physical inability to get low is an issue for him
* Strings moves together well, as he has a deep arsenal of moves like push-pulls, cross-chops, swims and rips to shed blocks
* Capable of figuring out the right counter move to shed blocks if his first move doesn’t work
* Has very good spatial awareness as a run defender and knows when and how to stack and shed blocks to make the tackle in the trenches
### Weaknesses
* Sometimes gives up a little bit in the arm length battle against some of the interior blockers he goes up against
* Has a tendency to pop upright against double-team blocks, which limits his ability to stand his ground
* Speed-to-power conversions would be more dangerous if he didn’t pop upright in his pads on occasion
* Good enough two-gapper but not particularly great in this regard
* Hurry numbers have always been good, but his sack numbers are just okay
### Recap
Graham is an extremely well-rounded defensive tackle with the athleticism, motor and technique needed to be a true disruptor up the middle in the NFL. He’s been one of college football’s best defensive players each of the last two seasons. He’s a tremendous run defender, but it’s his ability to dominate on passing downs that truly makes him a blue-chip prospect. A top-notch athlete, he maximizes his speed and agility with a red-hot motor and super quick processing capabilities.
I keep going to Quinnen Williams as a comparison for Graham, as both were explosive 3-techniques coming out with a deep arsenal as pass-rushers, both have similarly-built frames, and both can wreak havoc both in the run and pass game. I had Williams a little bit higher coming out than where I currently have Graham due to superior sack production, but the disruption is there for Graham to project as a similar player. Considering Williams is an All-Pro, that speaks to where the upside lies for the Michigan superstar.
As for the Bears, he projects as a perfect 3-technique on passing downs to Gervon Dexter sliding in as a more natural 1-technique. That hypothetical duo would have the potential to wreck games for opposing offenses, creating that interior penetration to cause quarterbacks to panic and break plays. The question isn’t whether or not the Bears should be interested in Graham; the answer to that is an unequivocal “yes”. Rather, it’s a matter of if he’ll be available when Chicago picks.
**Tentative grade: Top 10**