If Michigan DT Mason Graham makes it to the Vikings, he would be a very intriguing prospect

Welcome to SKOL Search 2025! This is the fifth year I have done SKOL Search with the sole mission being to find NFL Draft prospects for the Minnesota Vikings. Throughout the entire process, this will be the most comprehensive draft guide with a focus on the Vikings. Each year, I scout incoming draft prospects from […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham celebrates after sacking Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer, in the background, during first-half action between Michigan and Minnesota at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Welcome to SKOL Search 2025!

This is the fifth year I have done SKOL Search with the sole mission being to find NFL Draft prospects for the Minnesota Vikings. Throughout the entire process, this will be the most comprehensive draft guide with a focus on the Vikings.

Each year, I scout incoming draft prospects from a neutral perspective and try to see how they could fit with Minnesota. This will be general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's fourth NFL Draft and we have a good sense of what he likes in a prospect.

Going into the offseason, the Vikings have just three official selections with a fourth likely coming with a compensatory selection in the third round. However they choose to use them, they need to make the most out of their limited resources.

Mason Graham

  • Michigan
  • Height: 6030
  • Weight: 315
  • Class: Third-year Junior
  • Recruiting info: 4-star recruit in 2022 class per 247 Sports
  • Stats: 108 tackles (60 solo), 18.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
  • Games watched: Texas 2024, Illinois 2024, USC 2024
  • Quickness: Graham is an explosive athlete for the position. A prototypical three-technique, Graham gets off the ball quickly and can take advantage of poor athletes on the offensive line.
  • Hand Usage: Graham is very intentional on where he places his hands. A former wrestler, he knows where to best place them to maximize his forceful punch and leverage.
  • Pass Rush Plan: Graham knows how to attack and does so with intention. He sees a lot of success with a swim move and his quick penetration often puts offensive linemen in a bind.

Weaknesses

  • Length: Graham has relatively short arms, which can allow blockers to engage and prevent him from escaping their grasp. 
  • Flexibility: Graham doesn't have a ton of flexibility in his lower half. He struggles to bend the arc when rushing the passer. He also struggles as a looper in stunts due to his stiff lower half.

Overview

TraitGrade

Quickness/Penetration

18.4/20

Power

8.3/10

Pass Rush Moves

8.7/10

Counters

8.2/10

Leverage

8.5/10

Tackling

8.6/10

Size/Length

8.1/10

Run Defense

8.8/10

Awareness

8.7/10

Grade

86.3 First Round Grade

Graham is a fascinating prospect. He is an explosive three technique that has a ton of pass rush upside at the next level, including a pressure rate over 10% (10.26%). He thrives in the passing game while showing an aptitude in the run game by using his background as a wrestler to handle double teams. He also has apt size for being a three-technique with many in recent years being around 290 lbs.

Graham likely doesn't make it to the Vikings pick, but I'm not sure he would be a great fit for how Brian Flores calls his defensive pressures. He loves to stunt and manipulate gaps, something that Graham can struggle with due to his lack of flexibility in his lower half. 

The other element with Graham is that he likely doesn't make it out of the top 10 due to his pass rush upside and three-down ability. If he does make it toward the Vikings' pick, there is a chance they will make the pick.

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