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2025 NFL Draft Top Prospect Mason Graham Reveals Lowest Point of 2024 Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Evan Massey | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 12:28 PM ET

Michigan Wolverines star defensive lineman Mason Graham will hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday evening.

Graham, who has been a standout for the Michigan defense over the last three years, will be badly missed in Ann Arbor. However, his hard work has led him to being viewed as a very likely top-10 pick.

Some projections have even seen him going as high as the top-five.

Throughout his three seasons with the Wolverines, the 6-foot-3 and 320-pound defensive tackle has made his mark. He racked up 108 total tackles to go along with nine sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three defended passes.

Just ahead of the NFL draft, Graham spoke out about his career at Michigan. He revealed his highs and lows, with the low coming last season.

“I feel like there’s a lot to remember, you know,” Graham told On3. “I went from the highs, the lows, you know, winning national championships and, you know, not even making the playoffs. So I feel like, you know, everyone that comes to Michigan is like minded, has similar goals, you know, winning national championships, Big Ten championships, beating Ohio State."

Not making the playoffs just one year removed from winning a national championship was a tough pill to swallow for every Wolverines player.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein has offered a big comparison for Graham. He sees him being a similar player to Las Vegas Raiders star defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.

When he originally committed to play football at Michigan, Graham was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He was ranked as the No. 32 defensive lineman and No. 247 overall player in the nation, according to 247 Sports.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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