Chicago Bears Draft Prospect Target: Mason Graham |
Dustin Riese
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- 5 hours ago
Now that the Bears have addressed the interior part of their offensive line by trading for two guards, the pressure is on Ryan Poles, who will do the rest of the offseason. Sure, Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney are massive upgrades for this team, but everyone felt that this team needed a minimum of three, if not four, offensive linemen to get back on track.
Once free agency opens on March 12, look for the Bears to be heavily invested in the center market, with Drew Dalman and Ryan Kelly as two of the potential names to watch. You also have the NFL draft, where the Bears own the No. 10 overall pick and could target a guy like Will Campbell to be their final offensive line addition this offseason. If that is how the Bears address the line, then you have to consider it a massive success, as Chicago will enter 2025 with one of the more vastly improved lines in the game. Let's say the Bears not only sign a center in free agency but also add a tackle. That would take care of the Bears' offensive line issues and open the door for Chicago to do much more with their No. 10 overall selection. Could that be someone like Ashton Jeanty? Chicago does need to get tougher up front, which is where former Michigan Wolverine Mason Graham comes into play. Regarded as one of the elite defensive prospects not named Travis Hunter, the thought of Graham falling to the Bears at No. 10 seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream. Considering the deal Max Crosby just received from the Raiders, that dream may not be as far-fetched as you may think, as Graham falling to the Bears may be possible. One of the many defensive standouts for the Wolverines, Graham is one of those guys who can disrupt an offense. He has been known as a game-wrecker. Graham has put up some impressive numbers against some of the best competition, and that alone makes him worth the look at number 10. Even if the 3.5 sacks he registered last season don't jump off the page, Graham is the definition of a run stuffer, as his 6-3 and 320-pound frame would indicate. He may not get after the quarterback as much as you would like, but he still picked up nine career sacks as his sack total has increased every season. That is all you can ask from any high-end college prospect, as Graham can make plays behind the line of scrimmage but is known for blowing up the opposition's running attack. Although the Bears' rush defense wasn't terrible last season, it also wasn't at the level they wanted it to be. Adding Graham in the trenches instantly changes that, as teams will now have to account for him and Montez Sweat and some other guys. Knowing how much the Bears struggled in the trenches last season, Graham would give the Bears the interior push on the defense they are looking for. Graham has already interviewed with the Bears. From all accounts, that interview went well, leading you to believe the Bears are actively considering taking him at No. 10. Graham is not only an intriguing prospect but one of the most interesting defensive line prospects in the country. All you have to do is look at his accolades, and you can see why, as Graham was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten contributor (2023, 2024), a second-team All-American (2023), and a unanimous All-American (2024). That resume is about as good as they come, and considering the competition Michigan faces game in and out, that success didn't come against cupcake-type programs. While many have Graham as a top-five pick, with him going to the Jaguars at five, strange things happen on draft day, so seeing him fall out of the top five wouldn't shock anyone. Seeing him fall to 10 would be a shock, but if that happens, seeing the Bears pass on an offensive lineman to draft him would be a massive pick-up for this organization. For the Bears to become the Monsters of the Midway again, or at least some variation of that, Graham is a guy they need, as he will bring physicality, toughness, and a no-nonsense attitude to this organization.
