R Mason Thomas, Edge Oklahoma: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Thomas was a four-star recruit from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, N.C. in the class of 2022

Oklahoma Sooners edge rusher R Mason Thomas possesses an undersized build that makes him a scheme or role-specific prospect. His explosiveness, potent speed rush, and developing hand usage make him an attractive designated pass rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

R Mason Thomas, Edge Oklahoma: 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior defensive end from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Background: Thomas was a four-star recruit from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, N.C. in the class of 2022. He was the No. 410 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 281 for On3.com. Thomas was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. He originally committed to Iowa State before flipping to Oklahoma. Thomas made 64 tackles with 19 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery as a high school senior, leading Cardinal Gibbons to a 4A State Championship. He also won a 4A State Championship as a junior and earned Sun Sentinel First Team All-Broward 5A-1A and Miami Herald First Team 5A-Independent honors. That season, he totaled 45 tackles with 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and an interception. As a sophomore, Thomas tallied 24 tackles, 5,5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He also ran 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter events on the track team. Thomas’ father, Harvey, played defensive end at Florida.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed three games with injuries in 2022, suffered a high ankle sprain in 2023 fall camp, missed four games due to a high ankle sprain in his other ankle during the 2023 season

Awards: 2024 Second Team All-SEC

Pros: Special teams experience on the punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, great first step, explodes off the line, speed to threaten tackles vertically, rapid footwork, good hand placement to establish leverage, wins the leverage battle, pries up the offensive lineman’s pads to disrupt anchor or leg drive, some instant win speed rushes, well-timed chops, two-handed swipe, rip move, swim move, speed to power, nice power in upper body, attacks the B-gap, bends and dips to lower pad level significantly, leverage to play under the tackle’s hands, spins back into the action, closing burst, goes for forced fumbles, jarring hits on the QB, beats linemen to their spots in the run game, quick to halt and redirect to pursue the ball, speed to make plays as a backside run defender, pursuit range, relentless motor

Cons: Inexperience – fewer than 1,000 career defensive snaps, lacks polish, undersized, poor arm length (sub-32 inches), challenged by long-limbed offensive tackles, struggles to revive rush when offensive tackle initiatives contact first, pass rush plan must diversify, needs more hand counters, bend is impressive but not elite, driven up and around the arc, inconsistent ability to anchor at the point of attack, lacks play strength to keep B-gap run lanes closed, displaced horizontally on wide zone runs

Overview: Thomas is an undersized and inexperienced prospect who primarily plays 5-tech and wide-9 in both two and three-point stances for the Sooners. With fewer than 1,000 career snaps under his belt, Thomas is an athletically gifted pass rusher who is still developing his technique and polishing his existing skills. His sub-32-inch arms (based on 2025 spring measurements) will be an immediate disqualifier for some teams, but his fantastic first step, explosive athleticism, and motor suggest he will still make a significant impact as an early-career designated pass rusher. Thomas explodes off the line and presses offensive tackles vertically with rapid footwork. His bend falls short of truly elite, which leads to him getting driven around the pocket at times. However, he’s more than loose enough to bend and flatten his rush angles to win around the offensive tackle’s outside shoulder. Thomas struggles against long-limbed offensive linemen. He lacks the immediate counters and secondary rush moves to revive his attack when his opponent lands the first blow. Fortunately, Thomas displays excellent hand placement to maximize his natural leverage and pry the offensive lineman’s pad level up. This disrupts the blocker’s anchor, allowing Thomas to use his leg drive and surprisingly powerful upper body to convert speed into power and blow open the B-gap or walk the lineman into the pocket. The junior’s pass rush plan also includes well-timed chops, rips, swims, and two-handed swipes. He posts some quick wins with his pure speed rushes, which often feature him bending and dipping low to play under the offensive tackle’s hands at the top of the arc. Thomas counters inside to attack the B-gap either with his pure speed or a swim. The Florida native needs to diversify his pass rush plan and add more hand counters or secondary moves to generate sustainable production that will translate to the NFL. His closing burst prevents mobile quarterbacks from escaping, and he delivers some massive hits while targeting the ball for forced fumbles. Thomas lacks the size and mass to consistently anchor in the run game. Offensive linemen quickly displace him horizontally, and he lacks the power to forcefully close gaps. His quickness helps him beat offensive linemen to their landmarks on longer developing plays and makes him a significant threat as a backside run defender. Thomas’ speed and motor help him hunt down ball carriers, even over long distances.

Overall, Thomas is an explosive but undersized edge rusher who is entering just his second healthy season as a full-time starter. He’s already a significant threat because of his athletic traits and can improve his outlook by refining his rush plan. Thomas’ measurements and run defense won’t make him for everyone, but his value as a designated pass rusher and pursuit-style run defender gives him top 100 potential.

Role & Scheme Fit: Designated pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme

Round Grade: Third Round

Size: 6'1 5/8", 249 lbs. (Spring Measurements)

Submitted: 12-16-24