Eagles’ defensive end, Brandon Graham, will be returning from a brutal injury that took him out of the season last year. His presence on the field was greatly missed as the Eagles had to rely on Josh Sweat, Derek Barnett, and a sprinkle of Ryan Kerrigan.
While it may take Graham some time to find his footing on the field again, it will be what he brings to the locker room that is needed most for this upcoming season. Graham’s passion for the game has never been questioned and the same passion that he has for the game has been the same one that he delivers to the Eagles franchise as a whole.
No other player will give you the raw honesty as Graham would and that’s shown. Brandon Graham is one big heart surrounded by pounds of muscle and an energy that never seems to let up. He’s tallied about 30 sacks in the last four seasons while averaging about 7.5 per year since 2017. 2017 was the year that the Eagles won the Super Bowl due to Graham’s well-timed strip sack on Tom Brady.
Graham is now entering a different phase of his career. One where his wisdom will be more needed than his actual play on the field. The 34-year-old Michigan product will have to become a mentor to those who are either entering their own, like Josh Sweat and TJ Edwards, and to those who are experiencing their first year at the pro level, like Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean.
While the Eagles will reap the benefits of having Graham on the field causing havoc, they’ll be in an even better position with him continuing what he did on the sidelines last season. Leading the charge by being as vocal as can be. His energy is too contagious to avoid exploring that avenue.
Plus, Brandon Graham knows what it’s like to be the underdog. Earlier in Graham’s career, the defensive end was labeled as a bust due to the “lack of explosion” that he had at the linebacker position. After switching to the defensive line, Brandon Graham came into his own and is now one of the longest-tenured Eagles.
In 2019, the Eagles came very close to losing Graham as the remarkable defensive end was close to hitting the free agency market. Brandon Graham was emotional after their 2019 playoff exit and was seen in tears as he felt like it would be the last time he would wear midnight green.
Fortunately, the Eagles and Graham came together to sign an extension that would keep him around until 2021 which was followed by another extension that would keep him around until the end of the 2022 season.
No one knows what the future holds for Graham and the Eagles but one thing is for sure, the Eagles and Graham truly need each other this season if they want to be contenders.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
