The San Francisco 49ers could target Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 11 pick in the NFL draft, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said during a conference call.
Graham, who declared for the draft after Michigan’s national championship season, projects as a top defensive prospect. The 320-pound tackle earned unanimous All-American honors and was named defensive MVP of the 2024 Rose Bowl.
“Where they’re picking at 11, they’re going to be able to get a really good player,” Jeremiah said via NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’m curious, the one thing — we talked about him as one of the top players in the draft with Mason Graham. I’ll be curious to see how he goes through the spring.
“As I mentioned, I think his tape is so good, but I’m sure he’s going to totally ace the spring part of it. If you are looking for someone who I think would be a home run pick for them, what’s the dream scenario, to me, it would be [if] Mason Graham were to fall down to them where they could scoop him up and pick him up.”
The 49ers defense struggled in 2024 after ranking among the NFL’s best units from 2019 to 2023. Their run defense has been particularly vulnerable in recent seasons.
San Francisco is expected to release two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who suffered a partially torn triceps in Week 3 of 2024.
Graham excels at run defense and can generate interior pressure on quarterbacks. Some scouts note concerns about his arm length, but his skill set matches the 49ers’ defensive needs as they pursue their sixth Super Bowl title.
