The Cleveland Browns decided to trade down from the No. 2 pick because the offer they received was simply too valuable to pass up.
Still, that wasn’t the only factor in their decision to skip on a prospect like Travis Hunter. The team was also very high on Mason Graham. While selecting a defensive tackle as high as No. 5 might raise eyebrows, Graham demonstrated the potential to be a long-term NFL-caliber run defender.
That said, he wasn’t without his red flags.
Concerns emerged after he showed up nearly 24 pounds lighter at the NFL Scouting Combine, and seeing him vomit on the first day of rookie minicamp did little to ease worries.
Even so, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that the Browns aren’t overly alarmed about his weight or conditioning. Instead, they’ve issued him clear guidance to improve his physical readiness:
> “The Browns aren’t overly concerned about Graham’s weight because he moves with plenty of speed, power and explosiveness. But they did give him marching orders to work on his body composition over the next few months as he participates in the voluntary offseason program and prepares for training camp,” Cabot wrote.
At 6-foot-3 and 296 pounds, Graham was previously listed at 320 during his time at Michigan. He was a disruptive presence on the Wolverines’ defensive line and came from a program known for its structure and discipline—traits that speak well to his work ethic.
Of course, it’s not ideal for questions about conditioning to be the first headline surrounding a top-five pick, and this storyline will be worth monitoring going forward.
Still, Graham showed toughness by returning to drills right after getting sick, which could suggest that the concerns have been overstated.
