It's no secret that the New Orleans Saints defensive line isn't what it used to be. They are giving up 5.0 yards per rushing attempt this season, which is second-worst in the NFL. Second-year pro Bryan Bresee has made some progress as a pass rusher, but he hasn't quite developed into the three-down pro the Saints were hoping for, at least not yet. He could use some help in the middle line.
For this reason In his latest prediction, he linked the Saints to Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. He is a finalist for the exclusive Outland Trophy, the national award given to college football's best interior defender. Graham is both one of the youngest players in the 2025 NFL draft class (he turned 21 in September) and one of the best athletes, pound for pound or not.
The 1.80 meter tall and 140 kilogram junior has first-class movement skills for someone of his size; He fires the snap and is able to cross a guard's face in a hurry. But he also has the lower body strength necessary to secure the line and not give in to advancing opponents. He is someone who can annoy his teammates by occupying multiple blockers, clogging up the lanes, or forcing the offense to give him extra attention.
So he could be a good fit for the Saints. They've tried to rebuild their interior lineup after releasing David Onyemata in free agency a few summers ago, but even with free agent signings like Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders and late-round draft picks like Khristian Boyd, the group is lacking still an edge. Maybe Graham can be the guy to turn the tide. We'll just have to wait and see if the Saints will be able to sign him next April. If they still choose No. 9 overall, like in this mock draft? You should try it.