CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns were happy with defensive tackle Mason Graham during rookie minicamp, and not concerned in the slightest with the fact that he vomited during an 11-on-11 period on the second day of practice.
The No. 5 defensive tackle out of Michigan, Graham went hard during the camp, and pushed himself even after he got sick, rinsing out his helmet and rejoining drills.
Stefanski joked that Graham (6-3, 296) had eaten too many chicken wings before practice, and indicated it had nothing to do with him not being in shape. Graham actually said on draft weekend that was about 310 on draft weekend, which is still down about 10 pounds from his playing weight, but up 14 from his NFL Combine weight.
The Browns aren’t overly concerned about Graham’s weight because he moves with plenty of speed, power and explosiveness. But they did give him marching orders to work on his body composition over the next few months as he participates in the voluntary offseason program and prepares for training camp.
“My plan was always to get stronger, bigger, faster, stronger,” he said on the first day of rookie camp. “So I feel like the Browns are on the same wavelength with me on that. So we’re all bought in together, want to get bigger, faster, stronger, but there’s no specific weight I need to be at. They just want me to feel best and play the best.”
Besides, Graham isn’t the first recent rookie lineman to vomit during rookie minicamp when it was open to the media. Offensive tackle Dawand Jones did the same thing, but also resumed drills and pushed through the session. Jones, coming off a broken leg, went on to play at almost a Pro Bowl clip during his rookie season.
Graham, who will work inside with 2024 second-round pick Mike Hall Jr., also plans to attach himself to the hip of Myles Garrett, like so many other young defenders do.
“Yeah, for sure,” Graham said. “He’s a freak. I want to surround myself by him. He’s done it at the highest level for a long time and is the best at what he does. That’s a good guy to look up to.”
**Dawand Jones’ status**
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Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones, who suffered a broken fibula in Week 11 against the Saints that required surgery, is back working out in the voluntary offseason program and preparing to start the season at left tackle.
Jones, who missed the last seven games of the season, is at a good weight and poised to pick up where he left off when he started three games at left tackle last season. The Browns also signed veteran offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas from the Commanders, who will serve as the Browns swing tackle.
But they’re confident Jones, their fourth-round pick in 2023 out of Ohio State, can seize the moment.
**Mike Hall Jr. progressing well**
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Browns second-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. is progressing well after undergoing knee surgery in January, but isn’t ready to participate in the voluntary offseason program yet. The goal is for him to starting working again in training camp, and be ready for the season. The Browns are eager for the one-two combo of Hall and Graham.
Hall missed nine games last season because of a five-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and started only three of the eight games in which he played, recording 14 tackles, a sack and six QB hits.
**Carson Schwesinger impressive**
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Schwesinger had an excellent minicamp, and will ease the loss of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) for the season. Schwesinger, the No. 33 overall pick out of UCLA, showed excellent field awareness and picked up the system quickly.
The fast processing enabled him to pick off Dillon Gabriel in the end zone in a red zone drill and run it back. At his current clip, Schwesinger will make a strong case to start inside from the jump.
**Myles Garrett has popped in**
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Garrett, the Browns $40 million man, has dropped into the team facility a few times, including when the Cavs were home for playoff games, but has worked out on his own when he’s there. He’s using the club facility but has his own training regimen that he follows in the offseason. Garrett will probably continue with that plan and either join the team for some of voluntary organized team activities that begin May 27, or the mandatory minicamp June 10-12.
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