Maurice Jones-Drew believes he knows the perfect fit for the San Francisco 49ers in the upcoming draft. In his latest mock draft, the NFL.com analyst projects Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham to the team with the 11th overall pick.
"The 49ers lost a ton of talent along their defensive front in free agency, so drafting a tough, physical player who can create disruption from the interior should be a huge priority," Jones-Drew wrote.
If Graham falls to the 49ers at No. 11, it would present an opportunity to strengthen the interior of their defensive line after the release of Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked Graham as the fourth-best player on its pre-draft big board, making him the top-ranked interior defensive lineman.
At the Combine, Graham measured nearly 6-foot-4 and weighed in at 296 pounds, lighter than expected. However, one other measurement could contribute to his remaining available when the 49ers are on the clock—his 32-inch arms.
"Graham has shorter-than-ideal arms for an NFL interior defensive lineman, but outside of that, there is a lot to love," PFF wrote. "He is fast, violent and relentless, and he can stop the run with great strength. He brings a high floor at all times and a high ceiling in flashes as a 3-technique defensive tackle for a 4-3 front."
Graham wrapped up the 2024 season with 45 tackles (seven for a loss), 3.5 sacks, and a pass defensed, per Sports Reference. His career-high 34 pressures helped him earn an impressive 81.1 pass-rush grade. In 2023, Graham recorded 29 pressures, achieving an even better 84.8 pass-rush grade.
Graham has played dominant football over the past two seasons, earning defensive grades above 90.0 in both years. His 91.1 overall defensive grade and a 92.6 run-defense grade in 2024 led all collegiate interior defenders.
Additionally, Graham made significant improvements as a tackler. After recording a 57.8 tackling grade with six missed tackles in 2023, he raised his grade to 78.0 in 2024, missing just two tackles all season.
With a strong combination of pass-rushing ability and run defense, Graham would be an ideal addition to the 49ers' defensive line, addressing a key need heading into the draft.