No disrespect to Christian Gonzalez or Christian Barmore, but the New England Patriots don’t exactly have a clear-cut face of their defense. However, for a franchise that found one unquestioned leader in new head coach Mike Vrabel, the NFL Scouting Combine represents an opportunity to examine prospects who could fill a major void on that side of the ball. And according to longtime Patriots reporter Mike Reiss, one player who should generate “a compelling discussion” is Michigan’s Mason Graham. Widely viewed as the top defensive lineman in a stacked 2025 draft class, Graham boasts excellent quickness and hand usage. Listed at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, we’ll find out just how accurate those measurements are at Michigan, where the explosive defensive tackle racked up 108 tackles and nine sacks in three seasons. “It’s hard to be as productive as [Graham has] been from a 3-technique position,” Wolverines defensive coordinator Wink Martindale told ESPN in an interview. “The thing that stands out the most to me is he knows how to use his hands better than a lot of players in the league right now. That’s what stands out in college football – he’s hard to block.” Spending the fourth overall pick on Graham may not excite fans as much as the idea of pairing Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter with Gonzalez or adding big-bodied wideout Tetairoa McMillan to an offense that desperately needs a true No. 1 receiver, but that shouldn’t matter.
Bill Belichick built the foundation of the Patriots dynasty by fortifying the trenches with early-round picks like Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, and Vince Wilfork. Vrabel should take a similar approach by adding high-end talent to a defensive line group that features one proven playmaker: Barmore. However, Barmore faces questions about his availability after missing most of 2024 with blood clots. In an ideal world, a healthy Barmore would line up next to Graham, allowing the Patriots to use promising third-year pro Keion White on the edge. Plus, Graham has the ability to play across the line-a trait that should make him a coveted commodity for Vrabel and his staff. Of course, the NFL Scouting Combine will be a fantastic opportunity for the team to see Graham’s athleticism on display. More importantly, it’ll give the front office and coaching staff a chance to get to know the California native better. And if Graham checks all the right boxes, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him become a Patriot in short order.
