You Cannot Measure Heart Of R Mason Thomas
April 6th, 2026
Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas devours former Alabama QB Jalen Milroe.
Joe confesses to an affinity for Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas.
Forget how he ragdolled SEC tackles and quarterbacks. Forget how he was a monster of a pass rusher for the Sooners. Thomas won Joe over when Joe asked him at the combine about what he tells NFL coaches, scouts and suits when they ask him about his less-than-ideal size measurements.
“I tell them mass times acceleration equals force,” Thomas said.
That’s the first time someone used a physics formula on Joe.
At the combine, Thomas was measured at 6-2, 241 pounds with 31 ⅝-inch arms, 8 ⅞-inch hands and a 78 ⅛-inch wingspan. His tape shows a man toying with SEC offensive linemen and making quarterbacks stain their britches.
Thomas is schlocked all over the place, from the No. 12 pick to Dallas by prickly Pete Prisco of CBS to No. 54 to Philadelphia by Chad Reuter of NFL.com.
So Joe asked draft analyst Emory Hunt of CBS, the Czar of the Playbook, for his take on Thomas.
“Size is not a skill,” Hunt told Joe at the combine. “If you’re good enough, you’re big enough.”
Hunt believes Thomas, while only 6-2, has natural leverage on tackles.
“He’s right about [mass times acceleration equals force] because all we hear in football is what? Low man wins. Oh, until you get a low man, and then, now, ‘Well, you got to have size.’
“[Thomas] has natural leverage, that natural force that he talks about. That’s why he’s able to walk guys into the back of the pocket.”
Hunt raved that Thomas has a knack for making timely plays. “You want someone like that,” he said.
Whenever Thomas wasn’t in the game, SEC teams moved the ball on Oklahoma’s defense, Hunt added. “When he got back out there, different ballgame,” Hunt said, noting Thomas is about the same size as Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett was as a rookie — an inch taller and 10 pounds lighter than Shaq.
“Remember how dominant Shaq was?” Hunt noted, suggesting Thomas’ measurables are overblown.
In his last 26 games for the Sooners, Thomas had 15.5 sacks.
Hunt did say something about Thomas should concern Bucs fans.
“Right now you want your rookies to do things that they do well all the time,” Hunt said. “[Thomas] doesn’t have to be [an every down] guy. ‘Hey, we need you for 18-20 plays a game. Bring your best, 18-20 plays.’ And — BOOM! That’s how he has impact.”
In other words, don’t mess up Thomas’ head with pass coverage schemes. Have him do the one thing for which he excels: See quarterback? Get quarterback!
Uh, oh.
R Mason Thomas Cut Ups https://t.co/j7QIQ91k7D pic.twitter.com/1SXc9V0Qyo
— jeremiah🐦⬛ (@NewEraMiah) February 16, 2026
April 6th, 2026 at 4:01 am
Fan as well… Ideally there if a trade down scenario presents itself.
April 6th, 2026 at 5:36 am
I would be glad to see him as a Buc. Also like the DE from UCF and Illinois in 2nd rd. DE from TX A&M and the U are potential 1st rd picks. Just stay away from Auburn’s Faulk.
April 6th, 2026 at 5:37 am
He’d probably put on few more pounds of muscle at camp. Where ever he lands.
April 6th, 2026 at 6:28 am
Line for the ages. Dude’s tape and swag make me smile.
April 6th, 2026 at 7:54 am
Looks good!
April 6th, 2026 at 8:08 am
I’m sold. Move back a few spots pick up an extra 3rd?
April 6th, 2026 at 8:19 am
All his sacks are coming from going outside. That won’t work in the NFL. NFL tackles can handle that move and he’ll give up 1st downs on the ground opening up that big a lane.
April 6th, 2026 at 8:56 am
Really really like this kid-What a motor and incredibly quick.
April 6th, 2026 at 9:00 am
RMT is a WRECKING BALL!
Oregon TE in round 1!
RMT in round 2!
April 6th, 2026 at 9:13 am
would love this kid in RD2 after OG-Kadyn Proctor
GO BUCS!!!!
April 6th, 2026 at 9:37 am
RMT goes in 1st round.
April 6th, 2026 at 10:00 am
His problem wasn’t his production
He was always nicked up, missing games
But l like him as a pass rusher
But I’m not sure if he’s a 3 down OLB
And can he play 17 games?
April 6th, 2026 at 10:18 am
His tape is 10x over Faulks. Wayyyy better than Faulk.
April 6th, 2026 at 10:27 am
As someone who coaches LBs and edge rushers that goal line run defense against what looked to be Auburn got my hyped! Disciplined eyes and feet didn’t get pulled inside and made the play. That was a thing of beauty!
April 6th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Looks mid to me. Not an elite get off, no real moves, no counters. He’ll get washed in the NFL.
Pass
April 6th, 2026 at 10:39 am
Concur w @Lakeland on concerns.
April 6th, 2026 at 10:53 am
For his sake, I hope he goes to a team with a real head coach and real defensive coordinator. He’ll just be ruined as a Buccaneer like everyone else 🤡 “coaches.”
April 6th, 2026 at 11:01 am
Stop drafting physical specimens and start drafting football players. I’m tired of hearing about measurables! Football players love the game; the rest are only looking for a paycheck!
April 6th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Good size for a corner in this scheme. I’m sure he can cover a WR.
April 6th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Some drafts have him going to Dallas at #12.
April 6th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Can he play with more weight on? That’s the question that every team is going to ask. They’ll all try to get him up to 250lbs. How much explosiveness does he lose or does he get hurt playing at that weight is the question. Think that’s why you most people putting him at the end of round 1 to the middle of round 2.
April 6th, 2026 at 11:36 am
Please, no more small edges or OLB. Did you watch him vsTexas? He did nada.
April 6th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
He looks good, but where is the sack production? If he didn’t do it in college, makes me wonder what will happen in the pros.
April 6th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
“Also like the DE from UCF”
Malachi Lawerence not only comes with ideal size and ridiculous athleticism, but he has an actual pass rush move repertoire that most of these edge rushers coming out do not have. Cashius Howell as well, but if he were as big as Lawrence his worthiness as a top-10/15 pick would be rock solid.
April 6th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Yes wonderful, we know he can rush the passer, the real question is: how is he in pass coverage?
April 6th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
I’m 100% confident that Bowles and Licht will do the wrong thing.
Zero pro bowlers drafted or developed since 2020.
Both of these frauds should lose their jobs after 2026, should we flop again.
Nothing short of a first round playoff victory should be enough.
And that’s the lowest bar possible. East division and a home playoff game.
Second round playoff game should be the starting line.
Not a sub 500 record and school boy crushes on failed coaches.
April 6th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
That dude is VIOLENT! Love the tape!
April 6th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Kind of like you can’t measure the girth of Todd Bowles.
April 6th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
People are saying Round 2, he won’t be around. Dallas will snag him and everyone will forget about Micah Parsons. Jerry’s picks will be real important and I think if they are good ones it will be said he got the best of that trade.
April 6th, 2026 at 3:28 pm
The real question is can he stick with bijan robinson in pass coverage? Asking for the HC.
April 6th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Bradinator:
He had 9 sacks in 13 games in 2024
6.5 sacks in 10 games in 2025.
That is fairly productive
April 6th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
19.5 sacks in the last 2 seasons with a few missed games. How much production are you looking for?
April 7th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Sorry but in Bowles hands, he’s another JTS. Bowles simply has NEVER and will NEVER develop an edge rusher. In fact the Entire position seems to be a joke to Bowles that he simply ignores and neglects. ANYONE IS WELCOME TO PROVE ME WRONG. You’re waisting your time if you bother to try.
And of course we’re not allowed to have an ACTUAL Defensive Coordinator so……