CLEVELAND, Ohio — Forget what you may have heard about Browns rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham’s conditioning. According to the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, those rumors couldn’t be further from the truth – and Graham’s impressive movement skills could soon have offensive coordinators losing sleep.
Analyst Lance Reisland used the podcast to emphatically refute negative reports circulating about the Browns’ first-round selection, offering instead a glowing assessment of what he observed at rookie minicamp.
Reisland stated firmly during the episode: “I’ve heard lots of reports about Mason Graham and he threw up and he’s out of shape. None of that is true in my opinion. Mason Graham looks great.”
What makes Reisland’s analysis particularly compelling is his focus on specific traits that may not be immediately apparent to casual observers but could translate to significant on-field impact when actual football begins.
Reisland explained: “His hands are really violent and his movement skills are absolutely elite. His ability to move, get in a gap, he can anchor in there at 300 plus pounds.”
The podcast discussion highlights an important distinction in player evaluation – especially for linemen —non-padded practices reveal only a fraction of a player’s true ability. For Graham, Reisland believes the best is yet to come.
He predicted: “Mason Graham’s a guy when the pads go on... the Browns fans, I think will be very, very pleased when the pads go on because he’s going to be a nightmare for an offense.”
What’s particularly surprising about Graham’s skill set is the unusual combination of size and agility. At over 300 pounds, most defensive tackles are primarily anchors who occupy space rather than dynamic athletes who can move laterally with exceptional quickness.
Reisland elaborated: “His movement skills remind me of a guy of a defensive end or a smaller, you know, a nickel three technique who comes in on pass rush. Elite linebacker type movement skills at a guy 300 plus pounds.”
This combination of size, strength, and unexpected agility creates the potential for Graham to be disruptive in ways that offensive lines might not anticipate from a player of his dimensions.
Another element that stood out to Reisland was Graham’s mentality and self-confidence: “He knows he’s good. He knows he will shine when the pads go on. And I don’t think he has any question. I don’t think he questions his ability. And you can see that when he’s doing his drills.”
For Browns fans accustomed to judging defensive linemen primarily on their muscular appearance or “beach body” builds, Graham’s more functional strength might come as a surprise. Reisland described him as having more of a “wrestler” build – not necessarily chiseled but perfectly suited for the leverage battles that define line play.
When evaluating rookie performances, it’s natural to focus on measurable attributes or highlight-reel moments. Yet Reisland’s analysis reminds us that for defensive linemen, the subtler skills – hand technique, leverage understanding, and short-area quickness – often determine long-term success.
As OTAs approach and training camp looms on the horizon, Graham’s development bears close watching. If Reisland’s assessment proves accurate, the Browns may have found a disruptive interior presence whose impact far exceeds his draft position.
Curious about what makes Mason Graham’s technique so special? Check out the full Orange and Brown Talk podcast for Lance Reisland’s detailed breakdown of the traits that could make this rookie defensive tackle a standout when the real football begins.
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Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Cleveland Orange and Brown Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.