CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns rookie and defensive tackle Mason Graham took questions from reporters on Friday regarding the last 24 hours, playing for Jim Schwartz in his 4-3 defense, and more. Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department: I saw the little clip where you got the text from Myles (Garrett) amongst all those other texts that you got right after you were picked and I saw you said that was the only text that you answered. So just wondering, what did Myles say in that text and just how cool was that? “He just congratulated me coming to Cleveland. Just excited to work with me, and I’m excited to work with him, make this team better and put Cleveland back on top.” What are some things you look forward to Myles teaching you in your time in Cleveland especially early in your career? “I feel that’s the perfect situation I wanted to come into with an established vet that does it the best. He’s been the best for quite some time now. So him teaching me just the tips and tricks of the game and he has a lot of knowledge, so I just want to learn from him.” What have these last 24 hours been like for you, from being in Green Bay to coming here and just everything that it’s entailed? “Yeah, it’s just really crazy. You know, it happens really fast. Even though it’s a long process, but everything speeds up pretty quickly. But, it’s just a blessing to be here with my family and everyone that got me to this point.” Reading some of the things your Michigan teammates said about you, it seems like everybody always mentions your football IQ, that you can remember play calls from two plus years ago. Number one, is that true? Number two, how much has that helped you during the draft process? “Yeah, I mean, that’s true. I’ve played under a lot of great coaches who have helped me get to where I am. When I was in Green Bay, I bought two of my high school coaches who developed me a lot and were big pieces of my development. So I’ve just been blessed to be under a lot of great coaches and played with a bunch of great players. So I feel like when you surround yourself with those types of people, it only makes you better.” Speaking of great coaches, you get to play for Jim Schwartz, and he’s done a lot of great things with defensive linemen. What do you think he can bring out in you? “I feel like it’s a totally different style than I’ve been playing, so he’s been talking about just taking the handcuffs off me and I’m used to playing blocks now, but getting more off the ball and more attacking and, causing more negative plays for the offenses and I feel like I can fit right into the scheme.” How do you think playing big-time football in the Big Ten has helped you make this next step to the NFL? “Yeah, I felt like I’ve played the best competition. I’ve played along with the best. I like playing against the best, too. So I’ve played in big-time games throughout my past three years, and I want to play in even bigger games come the next level.” Obviously, going into this locker room with a lot of Buckeyes. Do you picture there being any bad blood there? “I think we can put our differences aside and come together for the betterment of the team and just build Cleveland. And yeah, it’s really – it’s all about winning.” Walking through the building, the welcome that you got, what was it like to officially become part of this Cleveland Browns organization when you walked through these doors? “Just a blessing. I never, I always knew ever since my top 30 visit I had a good feeling about all the coaches. I met with all of them on my 30 visit. I had a good feeling from the top to the bottom. Just the staff, I feel like everyone here just kind of fits what I want to be brought into. So everyone around the building has been really cool. I’m just excited to come in two weeks, get to rookie minicamp and start working.” What do you anticipate to be the biggest challenge as you go from playing at Michigan to playing at the next level? “I would probably just say, Michigan, one of the reasons why I chose that was to develop me into an NFL player. Coach (Jim) Harbaugh and a lot of NFL coaches were already at Michigan. I wanted to ultimately play in the NFL. I just feel like that transition will be pretty easy. The biggest thing for me would probably be the different style of defense, just learning how to attack more, and learning from the older guys and all the coaches.” From your time in wrestling in high school, what specific attributes from that have helped you in your career in being a strong defensive lineman? “I think the main things are just leverage. Feeling body weight, especially on the offensive and defensive lines that’s what happens all game. It’s a battle. Short amount of space and you’re basically wrestling another guy. I feel like it translates really well and that’s why I kind of wanted to do that. I think it also helps with mental and physical toughness as well.” I know at the combine there were some questions about the weight you came in at. What are you at now? And it sounded like most people were saying they didn’t think with you that would be much of an issue. And I guess just with that, like, does the wrestling background sort of help you with those fluctuations? “So the thing with me is I got to the combine when I was like 304 when I arrived at the combine and that kind of week kind of took a toll on me. I was on medical from like 10 to 7:30 p.m. I missed some of my formal visits, but I feel like the weight’s not an issue. I’m 310 right now. I feel really good and kind of ready to go just right into rookie minicamp.” Earlier in the week, Kevin (Stefanski) talked about when they’re evaluating all positions in the draft, but especially at the top of the board, they’re looking for dominant traits. What do you think is the dominant trait or traits that you bring to the table that allow you to have success at the NFL level quickly? “I think I’m just not a one dimensional player. I can use power and speed to my advantage. I’m not just a run stuffer or a pass rusher. I can do both at a really high level. So I feel like that’s where I excel.” Hey, Mason, do you know Mike Hall at all and have you thought about what kind of tandem you guys can form on the interior of the line? “Yeah, I know of him. You know, played against him for a few years, seen him. He’s a really high level player and just ready to work with him and make this team better.” Kevin Stefanski said he came away from his meeting with you during the 30 visit thinking you had a big competitive edge to you. Where does that come from and how do you think you’ll fit in with your style and mentality in the AFC North? “I would say it comes from me just playing, not just football growing up, but I played a lot of sports. So it’s always been my competitive nature to win and want to win and be the best at everything I do, whether that be from playing video games to being on the field and playing against Ohio State in football games. So even from the smallest to biggest moments, I’m always a competitor.” Were you aware that the whole fan base seemed poised for Travis Hunter to be drafted here and maybe some fans were a little bit let down when that didn’t happen? Were you aware of that sort of vibe? And then also, what might you say to fans about why they should be equally excited about what you’re going to bring to the table? “Yeah, I mean, I just – all the stuff on social media, you see, but I try not to pay attention to it. But, you know, everything panned out and God bless me to be here and that’s where I’m gonna play for my next few years and hopefully longer. So, I just feel like Cleveland’s getting one of the best players, if not the best player in the draft. You know, I feel like I can do everything and I can play anywhere along the front and just coming in with Myles and all the guys along the front is only going to make the team better.” What have been your initial thoughts of Cleveland so far? Have you been kind of introduced to this Cleveland fan base in any way, or heard stories about this fan base? “Yeah, I just heard that the fans are passionate. You know, coming from the Midwest, I’m kind of used to it now. I mean, I was a West coast kid growing up, but playing in the Midwest these past few years, I’m kind of familiar with the area, so I feel like it’s an easy transition. You know, Michigan’s not too far from here and kind of similar.” You’ve been asked a lot about how wrestling has helped you, but what are some of the other sports and some of the attributes you took from some of those, beyond the competitiveness, that’s helped you in football? “I’d probably say baseball, just moving around. And then I’d say basketball, just kind of the athletic movements, the quick – that’s kind of where I get my quickness from, I’d say basketball. My dad coached one of my little league teams, so it’s cool. You know, he coached me up a little bit, but I wasn’t the best basketball player, so that’s why I chose football. But I feel like, kind of all the sports really helped me. I’d say rugby, too. Just it’s a contact sport that I wanted to play. It’s just basically football without pads, you can’t throw the ball forward, but you can throw it backwards, and you’re just tackling big guys and, yeah.” Mason, I had heard last night after you got drafted, you stuck around with Will Johnson, and waited out the night with him? Was that right, that you did that? “Yeah, I mean, that’s my guy. We came into Michigan together, we played. You know, that’s one of my best friends. And just seeing the night he had, it wasn’t expected that he was not going to go in the first round. So I just wanted to be there for him just like he would be there for me.” Is that like, the kind of energy, I guess, that you hope to bring as a teammate to the next level then, too? “Yeah, for sure. I feel like, I’m one of the best teammates, I feel like anyone will say that. You know, I just want to be a guy that my guys in the locker room want to play with and I want to win games with.” Mason, outside of rookie minicamp and football, what are you most looking forward to kind of getting into here as you figure out your new home in Northeast Ohio? “Yeah. Just embracing Cleveland, all the fans,, the Dawg Pound. So just kind of getting familiar with Cleveland as a city and then just getting familiar with it.”