Myles Garrett's Departure: Mason Graham Could be Browns' X-Factor in 2026

The Cleveland Browns are heading into the 2026 NFL season without their best player on the roster after trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for a haul. While Jared Verse will play a huge role in replacing the production of Garrett, he's not likely to repeat what Garrett has done.

What's the Plan to Replace Myles Garrett?

However, the edge rusher group might not be the only players who help replace Garrett. ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi highlighted 2025 first-round pick Mason Graham as an "X-factor" who could help replace Garrett on the Browns defense in 2026.

Mason Graham's Potential

"Maybe the biggest X factor in replacing Garrett's production could be a Year 2 leap from defensive tackle Mason Graham," Oyefusi said. Obviously, Graham won't be replacing Garrett's production on his own. If he did, it'd be the best defensive tackle season ever. But he can help the defense as a whole take a step in the right direction.

Graham showed promise as a rookie, ranking 20th in pass rush win rate from the defensive tackle position with a solid 8.3%. The 22-year-old interior defensive lineman only had 0.5 sacks during his rookie year across 17 games, but with how Garrett dominated in the sack department, with a record 23 sacks last year, Graham could become a much bigger factor in 2026.

What to Expect from Mason Graham in 2026

Graham generated seven pressures in his rookie season, registering four quarterback hits in a decent rookie season for the former Michigan lineman. As Oyefusi notes, "Graham's impact, though, was felt, and the next step for him will be turning his pressures into game-changing plays." It wasn't an award-winning rookie season; that honor went to Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger. But Graham showed enough promise to be someone worth getting excited about for year two in the NFL.

The Browns' Defense in 2026

Graham might be an "X factor" in the Browns replacing Myles Garrett's production this upcoming season, as the potential he flashed at times in his rookie year could finally come to fruition in 2026 with a highly productive Sophomore season. The Browns' defense as a whole might not suffer such a massive setback if the other edge rushers step up.

What's Next for the Browns?

The Browns are gearing up for the 2026 NFL season, and with Mason Graham's potential, they might just have the 'X-factor' they need to replace Myles Garrett's production. Graham's development will be crucial to the Browns' success in 2026, and fans will be eager to see how he performs in his sophomore season.