The NFL offseason is a lot like musical chairs—except when the music stops, someone is usually out $10 million and searching for a new home. That was the case for Grady Jarrett, who found himself on the wrong side of the Falcons’ salary cap puzzle. But if he was worried about his next move, it didn’t show. Within hours, he inked a three-year, $43.5 million deal with the Chicago Bears, instantly giving Ben Johnson’s defensive front a veteran anchor. Still, even with Jarrett now in the fold, Chicago has a Michigan behemoth ready and waiting that could fix the long-standing issues plaguing this D-line.
The Bears hold the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and if you ask Chat Sports’ Harrison Graham, the choice is obvious. “If Mason Graham slides to 10… Sprint to the podium,” he said on Bears Now, making it clear that it’s not just because they share the same last name. Sure, there are other intriguing options—players like Ashton Jeanty and Tyler Warren—but Mason Graham is different. “To me, this is the fourth-best player in this draft, maybe even third. I probably would say third,” Graham continued. “I’d probably go Travis Hunter one, Abdul Carter two, Mason Graham three. If he’s there at 10, I just think the value’s too good.” That’s high praise, and it’s warranted.
At 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, Mason Graham is built to bully interior OL. He plays with the kind of controlled violence that makes OCs rethink their entire game plan. Last season, he posted an elite 92.6 run-stopping grade from Pro Football Focus while logging a pass-rush win rate of 13.8%. That’s not just good—it’s elite. As one NFL personnel director put it, “Graham can be a nightmare for O-line coaches, because the defense can line him up over the worst athlete inside.” That kind of versatility makes him a headache for anyone trying to block him, and it’s exactly why Chicago should be eyeing him at No. 10.
For the Bears, selecting the Wolverines’ Mason Graham wouldn’t just be about adding another talented player—it would be about building an identity. This defensive front has lacked a true game-wrecker inside for years, and with Jarrett now in the mix, pairing him with a young disruptor like #55 could be the move that finally stabilizes the trenches. Modern NFL is built around pressuring the quarterback, and Graham has already shown he can be a force in that department. He’s not just a run-stuffer; he’s a pocket-collapsing menace who could make life miserable for opposing passers.
Beyond just his on-field impact, Graham is the type of prospect who brings a workmanlike mentality that would resonate in Chicago. He played at 315 pounds last year but slimmed down for the combine, bruised his heels, and decided not to work out—a decision that raised some eyebrows but shouldn’t be overanalyzed.
His tape speaks louder than any combine drills, and his production at Michigan shows he’s more than ready to handle the grind of the NFL. As Graham himself has stated in the past, he takes pride in doing the dirty work in the trenches, and that’s exactly the kind of attitude that would thrive in a Ben Johnson-led team.
If the Bears want to take a swing at another position, they certainly have options. But in a draft filled with uncertainty. He may not be the flashy pick, but he could end up being the most impactful one. And if Chicago passes?…
Could Mason Graham Be the Final Piece to a Dominant Raiders D-Line?
If Bears GM Ryan Poles decide to look elsewhere in the draft, one team lurking in the shadows ready to pounce is the Las Vegas Raiders. And with their recent trade for veteran quarterback Geno Smith, Vegas now has some serious flexibility with their first-round pick.
So what’s the move? SI’s Hondo Carpenter believes the Raiders could strike gold on defense. On a recent episode of the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast, he made a bold prediction: “Big change here, I am expecting … I have the Raiders in massive fall, Mason Graham, the best defensive tackle in this draft, somehow gets to six.”
If that happens, Vegas should be sprinting to the podium. “You never have enough offensive and defensive linemen, especially pass rushers. Graham can stop on a dime and give you nine cents change,” Carpenter added. “He can twist, he can turn, he’s got multiple pass moves.”
Pairing Mason Graham with Christian Wilkins? Now that’s a defensive front built to wreak havoc. The Raiders are making big moves this offseason, and landing Graham would be a game-changer.
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