Browns' defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire told the position room before practice on Aug. 8 that DT Mason Graham is one of the smartest players he's been around.
That's high praise, as Cesaire played with LB Shawne Merriman — a multiple time All-Pro — and coached players including Texans DE Will Anderson and Eagles LB Jonathan Greenard.
"He just understands football, understands formations and what the offense is trying to do," Cesaire said. "He's trying to help everybody out as much as he can, and he gets down and he starts rolling. It's been really cool to see that maturation of him."
Cesaire isn't the only coach to recognize Graham's unique feel for the game. Head coach Todd Monken said he was unaware of that part of the defensive tackle's game until Ravens head coach — and former Michigan defensive coordinator — Jesse Minter told him at the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting.
"Well, I mean, talk about ball get off — what I didn't know is, I always saw him as maybe an undersized inside guy with great ball get off that's disruptive," Monken said before practice on Aug. 3. "What he is, is that; but in terms of the D-line, in terms of calls and anticipation of what he's going to see, communication, quarterback, verbal, O-line, in terms of the calls, I see it every day. He's not only that, but he's more, because he really understands football and he anticipates what offenses are trying to do to him."
Graham is looking to take his rare football acumen and second-year growth into the 2026 NFL season. Last year, Graham started all 17 games for the Browns as a rookie, playing 72 percent of the Browns' defensive snaps. The former fifth overall pick is gearing up to take his game to the next level.
"(I hope to) make more plays, play a lot of snaps and then be one of the anchors of this defense," Graham said.
During the offseason, Graham focused on improving his strength, which will help him as an interior pass rusher. Graham finished with half a sack during his rookie season, a number he anticipates climbing in 2026. However, his sack total does not fully showcase Graham's effectiveness, as he disrupted opposing offenses last year. Graham tallied seven tackles for loss, tied for second among all rookie defensive tackles last season.
Check out the top shots from Day 11 of 2026 Browns Training Camp as players got to work with drills, workouts and team prep at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Logan Fano (97) and Defensive end Khordae Sydnor (90) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins (74) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Carsen Ryan (48) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Benton Whitley (61) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Austin Barber (58) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Logan Fano (97) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Kole Wilson (87) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The defensive line during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Zion Washington (34) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Carsen Ryan (48) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Teven Jenkins (78) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Austin Barber (58) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Zion Johnson (77) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillips (69) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Center Kingsley Eguakun (65) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Teven Jenkins (78) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillips (69) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins (74) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillips (69) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Footballs during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Carsen Ryan (48) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano (55) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
A helmet during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach John Wozniak during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Jeremiah Byers (63) and Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Zion Johnson (77) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Logan Fano (97) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Winston Reid's cleats during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach John Wozniak during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during Day 11 of Training Camp on August 10, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
His disruption has been on display in training camp. Individually, Graham looks powerful and quick off the ball in camp. During practice on Aug. 3, he made an athletic play to dive at RB Quinshon Judkins' ankles for a likely tackle for loss. He has also drawn double teams and overpowered the offensive line multiple times.
Graham and the rest of the defensive line have set the tone in practice, which the rest of the defense has mirrored.
"I feel like I'm one of the guys that this team's going to be able to count on, so I have to go out there every day and prove that just to show all the other guys that they're just going to follow suit," Graham said. "So, I feel like it all starts with all four of us that are out there with the first group and then everyone else follows and we believe everyone should be playing the same level."
Even though Graham is eyeing a bigger role on the defense, as well as an increase in his sack totals, the second-year defensive tackle only cares about one area this season.
"He just wants the team to win," Cesaire said. "That's another form of leadership right there. A guy who does everything right, works his butt off, comes in every day, is very vocal in the meeting room, and goes out and proves it on the practice field."
