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