So much for the “Mason Graham to Foxborough” hype train. That thing just got rerouted—and fast. The Sporting News‘ December report made the Pats Nation believe that Mason could be suiting up for them next season. “Graham is a nasty run stopper whose flashes as an inside pass rusher suggest potential dominance in the NFL.”
Now, just when it looked like the Patriots might steal one of the nastiest D-linemen in the draft, the Jets swerved in, flipped on the high beams, and tailgated New England all the way to April. And now? They’ve pulled ahead with sirens blaring.
Michigan’s chaos engine up front is visiting the Jets—again. And no, this isn’t some casual “just checking in” stop. Ian Rapoport reports: This is the final stretch of Top-30 visits, and Aaron Glenn’s defense is rolling out the red carpet. Combine interviews? Check. Dinner before his Pro Day? Yup. Now a full-blown sit-down just ten days before the draft. That’s a five-alarm fire on Mike Vrabel’s draft board.
#Michigan DL Mason Graham, one of this Draft’s elite prospects, is visiting the #Jets tomorrow, source said.
NYJ has spent a considerable amount of time with Graham, including formal interview at the Combine, dinner the night before his Pro Day and now the Top 30 visit. pic.twitter.com/AI6SaGOHdd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 14, 2025
Now here’s the kicker: Graham was more than just a fit. He was the fit. The 21-year-old totaled 45 tackles, 7 for loss, and 3.5 sacks last season. First-team All-American, with a motor that doesn’t quit and hands built for chaos. Analysts even threw around the name Christian Wilkins when sizing up his NFL potential. Pair him with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, and suddenly New England’s front becomes a full-on riot shield. That’s not just elite talent—it’s trench warfare.
And let’s not forget why the buzz even started. The Patriots were dead last in sacks last year. Dead. Last. Combine that with the fact that they allowed 131.4 rushing yards per game, and the logic behind drafting Graham becomes real clear, real fast. But here’s the sticky part. The Patriots already dropped the bag on two big men. Barmore’s got an $84M extension, and Williams just inked a $104M deal. That’s over $180 million in interior defensive line, and now we’re talking about adding a rookie to that rotation?
And then, there is an elephant in the room: Drake Maye. His protection, rather. Drafting a DT at no. 4 won’t secure him under center after the 34 sacks he received in his rookie year. But Vrabel knows all that. So if he is still observing the edge rushers in this draft class, that’s because he already has secured Drake’s O-line (we’re talking about Will Campbell, ahem!).
Mike Vrabel’s Patriots hosts Abdul Carter
“The best player available is going to be the way it is.” – Eliot Wolf
Don’t blink. You might miss the Patriots sneaking a blue-chip pass-rusher into their war room. With just ten days to go before the draft kicks off in Green Bay, Penn State star Abdul Carter is touching down in Foxborough for a Top-30 visit.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Carter has only visited with the top four teams. You want a guy with self-awareness and confidence? Here he is. Now, if you’ve been tracking Carter’s journey, we don’t even need to tell you how good those numbers are. 21 sacks, 35.5 tackles for loss, and 164 tackles in three seasons. That’s not a linebacker moonlighting as a pass-rusher. That’s a quarterback’s recurring nightmare. And when your defense finished 30th in DVOA and dead last in sacks? Yeah, you listen when someone like Carter knocks.
Carter’s pass-rush toolkit is wild. First-step quick like he’s coming off a track block. A crossover that should come with a “broke his ankles” sound effect. And that Von Miller-style ghost move? It’s not just a cool nickname—it’s a real problem for O-linemen. “He modeled his game after Von Miller,” they say. And guess what? Sometimes he looks like him.
But here’s the kicker: Carter’s not just an edge menace. He’s got linebacker instincts, spy skills, and just enough chaos to make quarterbacks scramble before the snap. His inside moves, his fluidity, his ability to win with speed and leverage—it’s all top-tier. And in case you’re wondering about his run game chops? Slippery, quick into gaps, and straight-up fearless. That’s not a liability. That’s another reason to draft him.
So now the real question: what if he’s there at 4? The Titans and Browns could swipe him early. But if it’s Ward, Sanders, Hunter off the board? Mike Vrabel might be staring at a gift. Which would mean both Glenn and Mike are satisfied in that case.
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