1) Brandon Brooks
There aren’t any players that encompassed and defined the City of Brotherly Love more than Brandon Brooks did in 2019. His incredible play on the field is oft-overlooked, but this year he made it impossible to miss. The top graded lineman in 2019, per PFF, he did so coming off an Achilles injury that has left many players sidelined for good.
It wasn’t just that Brandon didn’t miss a beat, or that he jumped back into game shape weeks before predicted, it’s that he got better. Not only did he improve on his 2018 Pro Bowl season, finishing the season with an overall grade of 92.9. He was again named to the Pro Bowl this season. Although he was far and away one of the biggest snubs for the All-Pro list.
That gave Brooks the opportunity to showcase his abilities as a leader. With fresh faces taking new roles along the offensive line, it was up to Brandon, among others, to bring them along. Here’s Matt Pryor speaking on Brooks’ leadership:
Brooks was also able to accomplish his incredible season amidst lingering mental health concerns that came to light midseason when he was unable to play in the Eagles’ regular-season loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Instead of shying away from the spotlight, Brandon took the opportunity to speak about his anxiety.
He didn’t feel sorry for himself either. First and foremost on his mind was his team:
[I] tried everything I could to get back for my teammates, but I just wasn’t able to do it . . . Make no mistake, I’m NOT ashamed or embarrassed . . . the only thing I’m upset about is that when my team needed me, I wasn’t able to be out there with and for them.”
This also brought to light a cool glimpse into the friendship that he and Lane Johnson have developed over the years.
Unfortunately for Brooks, his season would end much like the one before it: on the injury list. However, he has already showcased his heart and his urgency when returning from injury. In terms of his 2020 availability, Brooks isn’t worried:
In the grand scheme of things, I had an Achilles injury that was much worse and people were telling me I wasn’t going to come back and do what I did.
Translation: look out NFL.
Who were your top-5 Eagles of last season? Let us know in the comments!
 Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
