Browns Draft Mason Graham, Applauded by NFL Fans After Surprising Trade with Jaguars

The Cleveland Browns certainly made some noise in the early going of Thursday's NFL draft.

First, Cleveland traded the No. 2 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of a deal that landed it the No. 5 pick this year and a first-rounder next year. Then, it ended up with one of the best defensive players in the entire draft with that No. 5 selection.

The Browns picked Michigan defensive tackle Mason Grahan at No. 5, which should help solidify the middle of their defensive front for years to come.

Naturally, the pick drew plenty of reaction from social media:

The Graham pick will forever be tied to the trade that ended up with Jacksonville getting Travis Hunter at No. 2. If Hunter becomes a two-way star at the NFL level like he was while taking home the Heisman Trophy at Colorado, Browns fans will surely bemoan the deal.

However, Cleveland also got plenty back in return and ended up with a defensive difference-maker of its own in Graham.

Graham was an All-American this past season and a key part of the Wolverines team that won the College Football Playoff national championship during the 2023 campaign. Fans in Cleveland who also cheer for Ohio State on Saturdays will surely be familiar with his game considering he starred for the Buckeyes' chief rivals.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked Graham as the third-best overall player and best defensive lineman in its final big board of prospects. It also listed Graham as the best pass-rusher and run-stopper.

That is quite the combination for a defensive tackle, and he will look to live up to the hype in Cleveland.