With the Super Bowl behind us, the NFL offseason is officially underway. That means the gridiron talk will focus now on who the Detroit Lions might trade or acquire and where local college players could end up in the 2025 NFL Draft, which starts April 24 in Green Bay.
One of the players expected to go early in the first round is Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham. While the Wolverines did not have the best season in defending their national title, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Graham followed up his 2023 second-team All-American selection by becoming a unanimous All-American this past season.
At BetMichigan.com, as part of our Michigan sports betting coverage, we developed odds projecting Mason Graham 2025 NFL Draft odds.
Team | Odds | Percent Change |
Jacksonville Jaguars | +150 | 40.0% |
Cleveland Browns | +250 | 28.6% |
Carolina Panthers | +45 | 18.2% |
New York Jets | +1300 | 7.1% |
The Field | +1550 | 6.1% |
As a reminder, these odds are for infotainment purposes only, you will not find them at any licensed Michigan sports betting operator, such as Caesars Michigan Sportsbook.
A unanimous All-American is a player selected by the five organizations that announce All-American teams: The Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Graham was one of only eight players this past season to be named on all five All-American teams, as a true standout for Michigan Wolverines football during an 8-5 campaign. In 12 games, the lineman registered 45 tackles, including 23 solo. He also had seven tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks. In three years at Ann Arbor, he made 108 tackles, including 60 solo. He made 18 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, with nine of those being sacks.
Considering his play for the Wolverines, it’s not a shock that many NFL draft gurus believe Graham will be one of the top players picked in the first round. He likely won’t be the No. 1 overall selection, but he’s considered the best interior defensive lineman. And several NFL teams need help at that position. Sportsbook operators that offer real money Michigan promo codes will have 2025 NFL Draft prop wagers available.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the fifth overall pick, and NBC Sports projects the Jags taking Graham to help a defense that forced the fewest turnovers (nine), gave up the second-most yards (6,629) and wielded the third-lowest quarterback pressure rating (16.9%).
Another team with a bad defense is the Carolina Panthers, who have the eighth pick in the first round. Should Graham slip, he would certainly be a welcomed addition for the Panthers, who gave up 6,877 yards – including a ghastly 3,057 on the ground – and only pressured opposing QBs 16.2% of the time.
Carolina gave up 2.82 points per possession last season, the highest in the NFL. Super Bowl champion Philadelphia yielded 1.65, the second fewest. A defensive stalwart such as Graham could help the Panthers win more games and be competitive in the NFC South. The BetMGM Michigan Sportsbook lists the Panthers at +6000 odds to win the NFC Championship next season.
If I’m looking off our board, another team that might consider Graham is the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners had an awful, injury-riddled season, in which their defense gave up 2.43 points per possession, tied with Jacksonville for the second worst. They also allowed touchdowns on 68.4% of opponents’ red zone drives, the second-highest rate last season. Graham’s presence on the inside could certainly help lower those rates.
San Francisco picks 11th in the first round. Graham could Graham could fall there, and a few drafts have the Niners taking him. However, Pro Football Focus believes the 49ers will send Deebo Samuel to Jacksonville as part of a trade that also flips the teams’ first-round picks. With the fifth pick, PFF believes Graham would go to the Bay Area.
As for the Lions, they have +900 odds at DraftKings Massachusetts Sportsbook to win Super Bowl 60 in February 2026.
USA Today Network photo by Eric Seals
Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters.
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