A couple of weeks ago, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah called the possibility of Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham falling to the 11th overall pick a "dream scenario" for the San Francisco 49ers.
"If you are looking for someone who I think would be a home run pick for them, what's the dream scenario?" Jeremiah said during a conference call. "To me, it would be if Mason Graham were to fall down to them where they could scoop him up and pick him up."
However, Jeremiah noted that Graham's stock could fluctuate leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, especially without a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. How he measured up against his peers in Indianapolis would be key. Graham opted out of on-field drills, instead choosing to show off his skills at Michigan's upcoming pro day.
At the Combine, Graham weighed in at 296 pounds—24 pounds lighter than expected. That and other measurables might give teams drafting ahead of the 49ers pause, increasing the likelihood that he falls to San Francisco.
At one point, Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Trevor Sikkema suggested the 49ers might need to trade up to secure Graham. But in his post-Combine mock draft, Sikkema still has the Michigan product as the first interior defender selected and the third defensive lineman off the board overall. This time, however, he has Graham available at No. 11, with the 49ers jumping at the opportunity to fortify their defensive line.
"Like Will Campbell, Graham's measurables in Indianapolis did not help his case to be a top-10 pick," Sikkema wrote. "He was 24 pounds lighter (296 pounds) than what Michigan listed him at, and his 32-inch arms place him in the 12th percentile for the position."
"Graham earned elite PFF overall grades over the past two seasons, but the league doesn't love drafting prospects with measurable limitations early. That would be to the 49ers' delight, as they could get a starting-caliber 3-technique defensive tackle outside the top 10."
Graham (6-3, 320) finished the 2024 season with 45 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a pass defensed. His career-high 34 pressures helped him earn an impressive 81.1 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus. In 2023, the defensive lineman recorded 29 pressures, achieving an even better 84.8 pass-rush grade.
He also posted a 91.1 overall defensive grade and a 92.6 run-defense grade in 2024—both the highest among collegiate interior defenders. Graham has consistently dominated over the past two seasons, earning defensive grades above 90.0 in both years.
Additionally, he made notable strides as a tackler. After recording a 57.8 tackling grade with six missed tackles in 2023, Graham improved to a 78.0 grade in 2024, missing only two tackles all season.
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