The word “Elite” gets thrown around too often when talking draft prospects but I genuinely don’t know how else to describe Oklahoma Pass rusher R Mason Thomas’ first step explosiveness
It should allow him to get after the QB in the NFL despite his lack of size (listed 6’2 249) pic.twitter.com/rIhIoX1Dsz
— Steve Letizia (Formerly CFCBears) (@CFCBears) June 23, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs recently signed George Karlaftis to a four-year, $93 million extension. The move solidified Kansas City’s toughness in the trenches, but the Chiefs should continue looking for a strong running mate for their star defensive end and ways to diversify their pass rush. The 2026 NFL draft includes several exciting candidates.
R Mason Thomas is an undersized rusher. Spring measurements list him at 6’1 5/8″, 249 lbs. with short arms, which might be a deal breaker for some teams. However, what Thomas lacks in size, he makes up for with his explosiveness. Offensive linemen struggle to get their hands on Thomas because of the burst in his first step. He’s the ultimate speed rusher.
Thomas’ explosive first step makes him an immediate threat to beat offensive tackles vertically. In the instances where he doesn’t win immediately off the line, Thomas gets low and uses well-placed hands to pry up the lineman’s pad level, disrupting their ability to anchor. Thomas’ steady leg drive and surprisingly violent upper body help him convert speed to power to win through the lineman’s frame.
Besides speed to power, Thomas’ pass rush plan includes chops, swims, swipes and rips. He uses his speed early in games to frighten offensive linemen into oversetting. This creates space for B-gap counters that Thomas exploits later in contests. His fluidity to attack either inside or outside on any given rush puts heavy-footed offensive tackles in lose-lose scenarios.
Thomas played less than 1,000 defensive snaps across his first three seasons, meaning his rush plan is still developing. His bend and ability to play under the hands of offensive tackles at the top of the arc give him a strong foundation, but he could become a more diverse sack artist with a more expansive move set.
Thomas’ size is a limiting factor in the run game. He won’t hold the point of attack, which is why he projects as a designated pass rusher early in his career. Fortunately, he plays with a relentless motor that makes him an effective pursuit-style defender. Thomas’ closing burst and change of direction help him track down ball carriers in space.
Thomas currently projects as a third round pick because of his size limitations, but he could play his way into the second round with a dominant season.