R Mason Thomas DE/EDGE Oklahoma | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
R Mason Thomas DE/EDGE Oklahoma
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 12/13/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.62 seconds (91%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 20.3 DOB: 08/25/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 12/13/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.62 seconds (91%*) | |
| Age: 20.3 DOB: 08/25/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 83.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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66% |
| Pass Rush: |
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89% |
| Run Defense: |
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75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#140
Position rank:
#35
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| College Games: 30 College Snaps: 884 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jonah Elliss - Utah |
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97% |
| Ronnie Perkins - Oklahoma |
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86% |
| Austin Booker - Kansas |
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85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A Florida native and Cardinal Gibbons High School standout, Thomas amassed 109 tackles, 36.0 tackles for loss, and 19.0 sacks over his junior and senior seasons. His senior campaign included 64 tackles, 12.0 sacks and 19.0 TFLs, helping lead Cardinal Gibbons to their second consecutive 4A state title. Athletics run in the family - his father Harvey played football at Florida. Beyond football, Thomas competed in track events including the 100m, 200m, and 400m during his high school career. The R in his name, interestingly, reflects a family tradition of R-names on his maternal side, including his grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle, though it doesn't represent a specific name.At Oklahoma, Thomas played in 10 games as a freshman in 2022, recording seven tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, and 0.5 sacks. His sophomore season in 2023 included appearances in nine games with nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. In 2024, Thomas started all 12 regular season games, finishing with 22 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 9.0 sacks. He earned Second-Team All-SEC honors and recorded two fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown against LSU, along with one forced fumble.
Coming out of high school, Thomas was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and On3, and a three-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals. He ranked as the No. 139 recruit nationally by On3 and No. 205 by 247Sports. Thomas chose Oklahoma over offers from Iowa State, Kentucky, Miami (Fla.) and others after initially committing to Iowa State. He enrolled at Oklahoma in June 2022 as a history major.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Explosive first step jumps off the tape - consistently beats tackles to their spot and forces them to rush their kick-step, creating immediate pressure opportunities
- Natural bend and flexibility allows him to run the arc tight to the pocket while maintaining balance and drive through contact
- Shows advanced hand usage for his experience level, particularly effective with his long-arm move to create separation from blockers
- Nasty closing burst to the quarterback - covers final three yards with scary acceleration that leads to high-impact hits
- High motor rusher who will string together multiple moves and counter back inside when initially stopped
- Better play strength than his frame suggests - can set a firm edge and squeeze down running lanes despite giving up weight
- Excellent spatial awareness as a rusher - maintains proper depth relative to the quarterback while working his moves
- Shows legitimate three-down potential with his ability to play the run and drop into shallow zones when needed
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized frame at 240 pounds raises questions about ability to hold up against NFL tackles who outweigh him by 60+ pounds
- Ankle injuries in consecutive seasons (2022-23) create durability concerns that will need to be thoroughly vetted
- Can get too upright at times when rushing, losing his leverage advantage and getting stalled by longer offensive tackles
- Still developing his counter moves - relies heavily on speed rush and needs to expand his repertoire
- Will occasionally lose contain responsibilities pursuing the quarterback, creating escape lanes to his side
Scouting Report: Summary
Thomas fits the profile of an immediate impact pass rush specialist who has the tools to develop into an every-down edge defender at the next level. His explosive first step and natural bend profile perfectly for today's NFL where getting after the quarterback is paramount. While his frame will likely limit him to 3-4 outside linebacker roles, his play strength and motor suggest he can be more than just a situational rusher.Teams running aggressive 3-4 schemes will covet Thomas's ability to threaten the edge with pure speed while having enough power to set a reasonable edge against the run. His ideal landing spot would be with a defense that emphasizes getting upfield and attacking rather than reading and reacting. Creative defensive coordinators will find ways to maximize his explosive traits while masking his size limitations.
The medical evaluations will be crucial given his ankle issues, but Thomas shows all the physical traits and technical refinement to become a productive NFL edge rusher. His ceiling will largely depend on his ability to maintain his explosiveness while potentially adding mass to his frame. The talent and tenacity are there for him to outplay his draft position significantly.
How other scouting services rate R Mason Thomas (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
162.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
47.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.