CLE Mason Graham
NFL defensive lineman. Position: DT (Defensive Tackle). Team: Cleveland Browns.
Quick Facts
- Position: Defensive Tackle
- Team: CLE (Cleveland Browns)
- Draft: 5th overall pick, 2025 NFL Draft
- Career Stats (Rookie 2025): Started all 17 games, 49 tackles, 7 TFLs, 0.5 sacks
2026 Outlook
Breakout 2026 season: Through three games, Graham has transformed into an elite pass rusher with 4 sacks—tied for 2nd in the NFL and matching the sack total of 2024 DPOY Will Anderson Jr. He also recorded 15 tackles through three weeks, representing a dramatic leap from his underwhelming 49-tackle, 0.5-sack rookie season in 2025. Graham became the first Browns defender to record a sack in each of the first three games of a season since Myles Garrett in 2019, establishing him as a legitimate top-5 caliber defensive tackle. This production validated the Browns' decision to move down from #2 overall in the 2025 draft to acquire Graham at #5, grading out as an "A" in the post-draft regrade (per Regrading the Travis Hunter trade: Did Browns easily win this deal with Mason Graham?).
Graham's rookie season (2025) was "solid without being loud"—he started all 17 games but was overshadowed by peers like Carson Schwesinger (33rd overall, 2025), who won Defensive Rookie of the Year. In training camp for his second season (2026), Graham showed a notable physical transformation, appearing "noticeably thinner" and more invested in elevating his production. Graham expressed confidence heading into year two: "I'm one of the guys that this team's going to be able to count on." The thinner conditioning and renewed competitive fire signaled Graham's intention to close the gap with higher-performing defensive line prospects from his class.
Role / Depth Chart
Starting defensive tackle for Cleveland Browns.
Injury Status
Oct 1 Week 4 — left knee injury: Graham exited Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh during the opening possession with a left knee injury. He was questionable to return. Graham appeared to get tangled with a Steelers offensive lineman before falling, then walked off the field under his own power. He's a 23-year-old 5th overall pick who's been enjoying a stellar season with 4.0 sacks through three weeks, including at least one sack in each of the first three games. His severity and recovery timeline will be critical to Cleveland's defense (per Browns' Mason Graham exits Steelers game with knee injury, questionable to return).
Oct 2 positive update — MCL and ankle sprain, few weeks out: NFL Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed Graham is out for a few weeks with an MCL sprain and an ankle sprain based on preliminary evaluations. A Grade 1 MCL sprain typically requires 1-2 weeks of recovery, while Grade 2 requires 2-4 weeks. Ankle injuries have a similar timeline. This diagnosis is positive news given the alarming nature of the injury—Graham won't require surgery and isn't out for the season. While he'll miss several weeks, the Browns' elite defense should be able to hold without his production (per Official Update Released on Mason Graham's Injury Suffered in Browns Win Thursday). ESPN's Jeremy Fowler adds that Graham avoided a major injury and is expected to miss "some time" but it's not season-ending (per Browns get good news on Mason Graham after serious-looking leg injury).
Oct 8 Week 5 — still managing injuries: Graham remained sidelined with knee and ankle issues and did not participate in Wednesday practice as he continues recovery from injuries sustained during Thursday's win (per Wednesday injury report for the Browns Week 5 against the Jets - Yahoo Sports).
Recent News
- 2026-09-12 — Revisiting Jaguars-Browns draft day trade for Travis Hunter before Week 1 (Revisiting Jaguars-Browns draft day trade for Travis Hunter before Week 1)
- 2026-04-10 — Regrading the Travis Hunter draft trade after Jaguars move him to CB exclusively (Regrading the Travis Hunter draft trade after Jaguars move him to CB exclusively)
- 2026-09-13 — Jaguars’ Travis Hunter Trade Arrives at Browns Moment (Jaguars’ Travis Hunter Trade Arrives at Browns Moment)
- 2026-04-24 — 2026 NFL Draft: After Cleveland's KC Concepcion pick, the Travis Hunter trade is now... (2026 NFL Draft: After Cleveland's KC Concepcion pick, the Travis Hunter trade is now...)
- 2026-04-18 — Who won the Jaguars-Browns draft-day trade for Travis Hunter? (Who won the Jaguars-Browns draft-day trade for Travis Hunter?)
- 2026-04-29 — Revisiting most impactful draft-day trade for 32 NFL teams (Revisiting most impactful draft-day trade for 32 NFL teams)
- 2026-04-23 — The Browns’ 2025 NFL draft trade is complete, and they netted a playmaker (The Browns’ 2025 NFL draft trade is complete, and they netted a playmaker)
- 2026-05-23 — NFL media keeps sleeping on Browns' second-year breakout candidate (NFL media keeps sleeping on Browns' second-year breakout candidate)
- 2026-02-19 — Browns’ blockbuster Travis Hunter trade looks more lopsided by the day (Browns’ blockbuster Travis Hunter trade looks more lopsided by the day)
- 2026-04-23 — Here's why the Jaguars don't own a first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft (Here's why the Jaguars don't own a first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft)