NFL Scout Defends Mason Graham amid Concerns About 'Short Arms' Ahead of NFL Draft

Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham raised some eyebrows with his undersized measurements at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, but it doesn't appear that it will hurt his draft stock.

ESPN's Jake Trotter reported that Graham's 32-inch arms placed him "in the 12th percentile among defensive tackle prospects this century," but an AFC scout said they feel he still has what it takes to be successful in the NFL.

"Short arms are worth noting, but realistically only concerning if it shows up on tape," the scout said. "If a player with short arms is constantly allowing their chest to be attacked or is frequently stuck on blocks, then short arms are a huge concern. That's not the case here. Graham's a highly disruptive player."

Trotter explained that Graham's experience as a two-time conference champion wrestler at Servite High School in Anaheim, California, helped him develop "the skills that would define him in the trenches: leverage, technique, toughness, focus and pure will."

B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked Graham as the No. 3 overall player on its latest big board and had him going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 5 in its recent mock draft. All signs point to the 2024 unanimous All-American having a bright future in the NFL despite not having the typical physical profile of a dominant defensive tackle.