Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Brandon Graham is due for a new contract, but how he’s handling it models why the franchise has found success.
Coming off of their first Super Bowl victory, there’s no question that the Philadelphia Eagles are riding high. Despite the ever-present worry of a championship hangover though, this team is favored to be competing for a title again in 2018. And though the return of Carson Wentz will be instrumental to that, a big part of their high expectations and success is their defense.
From 2017 additions Ronald Darby and Tim Jernigan to Fletcher Cox to 2017 rookie Derek Barnett, this team is loaded with talent. However, one of the more unsung heroes of the defense is Brandon Graham. The 30-year old edge rusher has been a force for the Eagles defense in recent years. However, he’s also entering the final year of his current contract.
While many might expect him to try and cash in after the Super Bowl, that’s not the case as he searches for a new deal. According to Graham via Jeff McLane of Philly.com, he’s fine playing out the final year of his contract with the mentality of proving he’s worth a new deal.
Graham’s value goes beyond just the 9.5 sacks and 47 tackles that he accrued last season. Diving deeper, he’s an absolute force in terms of consistently getting after the quarterback.
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Pro Football Focus Edge graded him as the sixth best pass rusher off the edge last season, and then ranked him as the league’s 25th best overall player heading into 2018. That, in large part, is due to the fact that he amassed 78 pressures last season — so though he wasn’t getting the sack, he affected so many plays. Thus, it would make sense to pay him, but his willingness to play without a new contract speaks to something larger.
Yes, the championship last season and prospect of another is a part of why Graham is willing to play on what is essentially a one-year deal, and how could it not be. However, one of the reasons that the Eagles are in this current position that people often overlook is the culture that’s been cultivated in Philly.
With the trades to beef up the roster last season, the Eagles clearly made it known they were making a title run. More importantly though, they did so while still taking care of their own, guys like Cox, or locking up/paying Alshon Jeffery before the end of last season. If you play your role and do it well, the Eagles have proven they won’t cast you aside.
Seeing that as a player, Graham has to recognize that. That has to be a major factor in all of this. The knowledge that, if he goes into the season and continues to be a pressure machine, he’s going to be taken care of when the time comes is invaluable.
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Granted, there could be a desire to go elsewhere for Graham. What’s more, the Eagles may want to turn to youth with someone like Barnett and let Graham walk, making this point about culture look futile. However, given what we’ve seen to this point with this organization, it’s certainly reasonable to say that Graham’s lack of concern over a new contract is, in many ways, a testament to why this team has risen to their current heights.