Brandon Graham could not end his career in another uniform. Sure, other Philly greats have done it, but after the career Graham has had in Philly, he had to end his career here. On Friday, Howie Roseman made sure that would happen by signing Graham to a 1-year deal that should let the Philadelphia legend end his career in midnight green (and occasionally kelly green). In the process, Graham further endeared himself to Eagles fans by coming back on a bargain deal.
Graham’s reported deal for 2023 is for $6 million. After having 11 sacks in 2022, Graham could have easily gotten more than that on the free agent market if he waited until next week. That’s not what Graham wanted, though. “It wasn’t about the money. I love Philly. I don’t want to miss a championship with Jalen. Jalen is the man. I just told my agent make it happen,” Graham told Josina Anderson.
Brandon Graham’s career in Philadelphia is a storybook. After being drafted in the first round in 2010 Draft to the disappointment of Eagles fans who wanted Earl Thomas after losing Brian Dawkins, Graham was, by all accounts, a bust over his first few years. Injuries and being miscast initially played a role in Graham earning the label early in his career. Graham had just 11.5 sacks over his first four years in Philadelphia. Since then, however, Graham has become one of the most beloved athletes in Philadelphia sports history.
Not only has Graham become a stalwart defensive end for the Eagles, but he’s also responsible for one of the most iconic plays in franchise history with his strip sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII. Simply put, the Eagles do not have a Lombardi Trophy in their trophy case right now if it were not for that play.
If that was the last play Graham made in an Eagles uniform, he’d forever be loved in the 215 area code. He actually got better since then, however, and at the age of 34, he just had the first double-digit sack season of his career, a year removed from an Achilles injury that cost him his 2021 season. He did it playing fewer snaps than we were used to seeing #55 play too, which suggests that he will be able to provide similar production to the Eagles’ defensive line in 2023.
PFF graded Brandon Graham as the highest-rated Eagles defender on the season at 89.8 – just ahead of Hassan Reddick and Josh Sweat. All of whom now return in 2023. Graham did that by playing 524 snaps this season which is the least he’s had since 2014 (other than 2021, when he was hurt) . He isn’t a top-line starter anymore but will be a key rotational pass rusher for the Eagles again next season.
Graham’s value to the Eagles goes well beyond the stat sheet and the sack leaderboard though. He is one of the emotional leaders of the team – one of Nick Sirrani’s core four (Graham, Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce, Flecther Cox). We don’t know yet if Kelce will return, but it feels like he will. Cox feels less likely to return unless there just isn’t a market for him. The Eagles needed Graham back – especially with there suddenly being questions around whether or not Darius Slay will return.
We know the Eagles are going to lose multiple free agents next week who will be looking to rightfully get paid. No one should begrudge any player that leaves via free agency for a big payday. At the same time, when someone returns on a bargain deal because they want to be in Philadelphia, they need to be celebrated.
Only Chuck Bednarik played as many seasons in an Eagles uniform as Graham. If he stays healthy in 2023, no one will have ever played as many games in an Eagles uniform as him. With how his Eagles career started, it’s downright wild to think that this is where Graham’s career took him. No one would have guessed this would be the case ten years ago when it looked like the Eagles might have drafted a tweener that just didn’t fit their defense.
Brandon Graham has reached Eagles Mount Rushmore status at this point. Coming back on a team-friendly deal today only further cemented that status. Hopefully, his faith in Jalen Hurts and his selflessness is rewarded with another run to the Super Bowl with a better outcome this season.
