Brandon Graham was one of the Eagles’ most dominant defensive forces last season. With a career high 59 tackles and 4.5 sacks in his first year under Jim Schwartz, Graham exploded on the outside and made it clear that he has a long-term future in the City of Brotherly Love. After the team paid Vinny Curry last offseason and went on to draft Derek Barnett recently however, it left many wondering whether or not the team would give Graham the extension he was so deserving of. Ultimately, that extension never came…but that doesn’t mean the Eagles aren’t willing to help the situation.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Eagles have added some incentives to the contract of their 29-year old defensive end. The incentives could see Graham make an extra $1.5M over the next two years, raising his total earnings to $14.5M. What are those incentives exactly? According to the report in which sources revealed the intricacies to Yates, they look like this.
If Brandon Graham records between 7-9 sacks this season (essentially setting another career high), then he will earn an extra $250,000. Graham has recorded at least five sacks in four of his seven seasons so far. However, if he fails to reach nine sacks but earns a Pro Bowl honor or is named to the first or second All-NFL team, he’ll earn the same amount.
If Graham records between 7-8 sacks this season, his base salary next year increases by another $250,000. If that total is between 9-11 sacks, that number doubles. If it’s 12 or more? The incentive moves to $750,000. A Pro Bowl appearance or All-NFL team mention adds another $250,000.
Graham may not have received the contract extension he’s been so deserving of just yet, but if his production continues to trend upward in his second year under Jim Schwartz, then it certainly improves the chances of one being worked out. To make things better, Graham now has even more incentive to go out and dominate this season.
Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
