There are some parallels between Eagles’ great, Brandon Graham and Nolan Smith. They were both first-round picks considered undersized, criticized, and doubted by the press and fan base early in their career, and they both have a burning desire to succeed. The Eagles invest in traits, skill sets, personalities, and people with the mental fortitude to accept what is asked while constantly working hard to be prepared when their number is called.
They both have that too.
Brandon Graham
Graham endured years of listening to fans’ insults and even more doubt from local talk radio and media who constantly called the Eagles’ first round pick a bust.
“I had to not take it personal and know that they got a job to do and they got papers to sell”
Getting over that perception was tough at the beginning of his career, and he admits he put a lot of pressure on himself. Struggling was not something Graham had endured before.
“The beginning was a little rough”
But the traits the Eagles saw in him during the draft process were gradually to be realized by Brandon. He learned he had to be on the timeline he was destined for, not the one burning inside of him for instant success. He discovered how to be patient and allow the moment to come to him, and he learned a lot about himself while competing and digging deep within himself to meet the challenges.
“ I was young and immature because I wanted to have early success. I learned that I’m a fighter and I just kept fighting”
Brandon also wants to leave behind a legacy, like his mentor Trent Cole, who he credits for showing him the “Eagle Way.” He patterned his routines and work ethic after the Eagles legend and has been paying it forward ever since. Graham is determined to leave behind a strong legacy.
“It’s just showing them how to practice. You’ve got to make sure you bring it every day. Some days, you don’t have it. You’ve got to make sure you can talk about it and tell people, ‘I need you. Finish the practice the right way.’ It’s more how we carry ourselves every day, our regimen.”
That legacy could be Nolan Smith Jr.
Parallels between the two Eagles
Nolan Smith is known for always wearing a smile and for sharing good-natured smack talk, but he also puts in the work. He especially listens to his mentor, B.G.
“I told the guys to make sure you have fun when it’s time to have it, but when we’re between those lines or in those meetings, let’s make it about what we do well so we can carry out that game plan.”
Smith Jr believes he and Graham are kindred spirits.
“I’d say me and BG got the same type of motor though. We run off the same type of happy juice, energy-type.”
Both of the Eagles defenders also appear to be developing at a similar pace.
Brandon Graham finished the 2016 season with 5.5 sacks but was ranked the 9th-best player in football by PFF heading into the 2017 season. Their ranking caused a lot of head-scratching, but PFF rated the Eagles’ defender on more than just QB sacks. Despite ranking 18th in sacks amongst edge rushers, PFF based their evaluation on the totality of the disruption and pressure he was applying to the QB.
BG was 2nd overall with 83 pressures and only three behind the leader, Oliver Vernon, who had 156 more pass-rushing attempts. He didn’t have any games where he recorded multiple sacks, but he had nine games where he was credited with 5 or more pressures. In week 8 he had 11 pressures versus the Cowboys, who were thought by most to have the best offensive line in football that year.
So, while many believe his Super Bowl-winning breakout 2017 season, in which he had 9.5 sacks, surprised some. It was on par with those paying attention to his 2016 pressure rate. Something else that Graham and Smith share.
Nolan Smith
Some Eagles’ fans didn’t see the value of a player like Nolan Smith during the 2023 draft due to lower sack totals than some of the other edge rushers.
But his pressure and pass-rush win rates were good. Last season, Nolan finished with an impressive 9.4 pressure rate and a 10.7% run-stop rate over 203 defensive snaps. If he can provide those same rates or better while doubling his snap production, he could be one of the bigger breakouts over the second half of the NFL season.
He knows what he needs to do to improve and turn those pressures into sacks and negative plays. As always, he is holding himself accountable for it.
“I just get mad at myself because them plays, I gotta finish. That’s why they brought me here. They brought me here to finish plays. Not get close, not almost do that. They brought me here to finish and make plays and that’s what I’m here to do.”
His teammates notice his work ethic as well. In 2023, when he notched his first sack, the first two players to go over and congratulate Nolan were Fletcher Cox & Brandon Graham (who jogged over after dropping back in coverage). Smith has won over his teammates with his dedication and is starting to win over the fans and media who have doubts by producing on the field. Success will never change how he attacks the process of getting better, nor will it take away the chip on his shoulder that he plays with.
“It’s my chip. No one else put that chip on my shoulder. I put it on myself just to really better myself & better my game & just not listen to outside noise & always try to be the complete best player I can be.”
That type of attitude is what continues to endear him to the city and what builds excitement among fans waiting for his production to arrive where his mindset and effort currently are.
He is doing it for family, himself, the team, and for you, Philadelphia.
“Whatever they tell me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. One, because I love football, & two, because I love the Eagles & Philadelphia. I’d do anything for this city.
As always, Thank you for reading!
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Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
