Brandon Graham Was Worth Every Penny
At the conclusion of the 2018 season, it looked as if Brandon Graham’s time as an Eagle had come to an end. Many remember him embracing NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Derrick Gunn and Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson after the divisional round lose to the Saints.
In the off-season, it came as a pleasant surprise that the Eagles re-signed Graham to a three-year contract worth up to $40 million. Even with a deep free agent and a draft class of defensive ends, the Eagles showed the trust they had in the former first-round pick to help anchor the Eagles defense.
Some saw the resigning of Graham as a bad move on the part of general manager Howie Roseman. Graham was coming off a disappointing 2018 season with only four sacks. Graham’s age of thirty-one was also an issue. Some saw the draft as a way to find young talent to replace Graham’s production.
At the beginning of the 2019 season, it looked like it was going to be the same story for Graham. Through the first four games, he registered no sacks. In week five against the New York Jets, Graham finally broke out getting to the quarterback three times and hitting the quarterback five times.
Since then Graham’s presence has been felt. He has totaled 7.5 sacks on the season. He is playing like the 2017 Brandon Graham that put pressure on opposing quarterbacks constantly. With only 2.5 more sacks, he can surpass his 2017 career-high in sacks of 9.5.
Along with Graham’s production on the field, his veteran presence in the locker room is something that gives the Eagles defense a sort of swagger. This swagger is what has helped the defense become a disruptive force in the league over the last month of the season.
His personality off the field is also one of a kind. His friendly nature off the field is one of the many reasons why he is beloved by Eagles fans everywhere. From his dialogues post-game with reporters to his radio interviews during the week, Graham is a player that has embraced Philadelphia and calls it his home.
Graham’s legacy as an Eagle is already set in stone. He made one of the most important plays in Eagles history with his strip-sack of Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. For Graham to continue to stay on this hot streak as the Eagles hit a critical stretch in the season would be huge.
It would not only help the team, but it would also help solidify his legacy even more in the minds of Eagles fans and in the hall of Philadelphia football lore.
Featured Image: Lori M. Nichols/NJ Advance Media
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Eagles