It’s one thing to get a sack at any time during an NFL game. It’s another thing to get one when your team needs it most.
Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham is already serving notice with four sacks in three games after getting just one-half sack in 17 games as a rookie. But his latest was also his most important.
That is why former NFL coach Jon Gruden is raving about the young Browns defender, who came through at a critical point in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
“I love defensive players who make impact plays to end the day, like defensive lineman Mason Graham of the Cleveland Browns. How about splitting a double team for your second sack of the day at crunch time?” Gruden said.
These defensive players had me feelin’ NICEY this week!@DKSports #DKPartner pic.twitter.com/ajf5UaHcHI
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) September 28, 2026
With the Browns leading 21-18, the Panthers were facing a third-and-10 from their 22-yard line with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Bruce Young had already led a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that gave his team the lead, and Carolina only needed a field goal to possibly get to overtime.
Graham wasn’t going to let that happen. He powered through two blockers and got to Young for a 6-yard loss. Carolina then came up short on fourth down, but after Cleveland failed on a fourth-down run, the Panthers got the ball back, with their final drive ending on an interception by safety Ronnie Hickman.
It was the second straight game that the Browns defense protected a narrow fourth-quarter lead, after doing so in a 23-19 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. Graham had one sack of Baker Mayfield, after posting the only sack of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in Cleveland’s 34-10 Week 1 loss.
This good start has launched the No. 5 overall pick from the 2025 NFL Draft toward a breakout season. He already has five quarterback hits, which is more than he had all of last year, and with six tackles for loss, he is just one away from that total.
Graham has been the most productive defensive lineman as the Browns look to replace Myles Garrett this season. No other teammate has more than one, with defensive end Isaiah McGuire, Hickman, and safety Grant Delpit combining for three.
With a first-place showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers coming up on Thursday night, Graham could have another opportunity to make a huge play late in the game.
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