NFL Draft 2025: Mason Graham picked No. 5 overall in Round 1

Michigan saw one of its own come off the board in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night, giving the Wolverines a first-round pick in every NFL Draft since 2019.

With the No. 5 overall pick, the Cleveland Browns selected defensive tackle Mason Graham. Cleveland traded down to No. 5, dealing the second overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a haul that included picks in the later rounds of the 2025 draft and a first-round pick next year.

Graham becomes the 54th first-round pick in Michigan history, and the first defensive tackle selected from Michigan in the first round since Mazi Smith was No. 26 in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Last season, the Wolverines had 13 players drafted from their national championship team in the 2024 NFL Draft, with JJ McCarthy going No. 10 overall to the Minnesota Vikings.

Graham going so early in the draft isn’t a surprise to anyone, as he was a fixture in a talented Michigan defense during his career.

He played three seasons for Michigan, starting 27 out of 39 games. During the last 2 seasons for the Wolverines, he was a 2-time first team All-Big Ten selection, and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy and the Nagurski Award.

During the Michigan national title run in 2023, he had 35 tackles and 3 sacks. He may not have put up numbers that screamed awards, but he made that defense go by constantly demanding a double team.

In the Wolverines’ upset victory against eventual national champion Ohio State last season, he just dominated the game. He finished the game with 7 tackles and helped Michigan hold Ohio State to only 77 yards on 26 rushes.