R Mason Thomas was one of the most impactful defensive players for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. With high expectations headed into the season, Mason finished top-ten in the SEC with 6.5 sacks for the second straight season. Here is an early 2026 NFL Draft Profile on one of the top edge rushers in the class.

Early 2026 NFL Draft Profile Of Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas
Measurables

Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 249 lbs
Arms: 31 3/4”
Wingspan: 77 1/2”
Hands: 8 5/8”

Player Background

R Mason Thomas was ranked as a four-star recruit and within the top 25 at his position coming out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in the state of Florida. He chose the Sooners over the likes of Penn State, South Carolina, and the Miami Hurricanes during the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Over 19 appearances in his first two seasons, Thomas would post just 1.5 sacks as a rotational defensive end. In 2024, he would become a second-team All-SEC selection after starting all but two games for Oklahoma. Not only did he post a team-leading nine sacks, but he was the first Sooner since 2020 to record three sacks in a game. Despite missing three games due to injuries in his senior year, Mason still led the team with 6.5 sacks and was one of the best defensive linemen in the conference.

Accolades

Bednarik Award Semifinalist (2025)
Lombardi Award Watchlist (2025)
All-SEC Second Team (2024)
SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (2024 vs. Alabama)
National Defensive Player of the Week (2024 vs. Auburn)

Best Tools

R Mason Thomas is one of the best speed rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft. He pairs an incredible motor with an explosive first step to threaten tackles vertically and has good bend to win around the outside. Thomas’s measurables don’t limit him from producing both with his hand in the dirt and in an outside linebacker role. His hands are always active, which prevents offensive linemen from latching onto him and taking Thomas out of the play. Defenses need their best players to show up late in games, and nearly half of the career sacks in Thomas’ career came with Oklahoma holding a tight fourth-quarter lead.

Tools to Improve

The majority of Thomas’ struggles are related to play strength. Against the pass, he really struggles against bigger-bodied tackles, and it becomes clear that he may need to add functional strength in order to consistently win with power against some of the bigger linemen at the next level. Against the run, Thomas can become too eager to work vertically and fail to set the edge against outside runs. He can rely too much on his raw explosiveness rather than the technical aspects of rushing the passer. If Thomas can develop a deeper bag of counter moves, he will be able to recover when tackles are able to engage with him first.

NFL Projection

R Mason Thomas shares an incredibly similar projection to former Oklahoma pass rusher Nik Bonitto. Much like Bonitto, it is clear that Thomas is an athletic, uber-aggressive pass rusher looking to pin his ears back and ruin a quarterback’s day. The team that selects him will have two options: try to clean up his play against the run or deploy him specifically in pass rush situations. The injury history may scare some teams away, but Thomas will be able to showcase his elite athleticism at the NFL Combine and, with a strong showing, potentially cement himself as a first-round pick.

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