Philadelphia Eagles: The Brandon Graham-era is all but over
The Philadelphia Eagles’ bout against the Houston Texans is their final home game of the season and could also be Brandon Graham’s final home game in midnight green.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, the ‘Brandon Graham-era’ may come to an end with the changing of the calendar.
To be fair, it’s not like Graham is having a bad season, as according to Pro Football Focus, he’s the 10th most effective edge rusher in the entire NFL, but at 30-years-old, it seems unlikely that Philly will offer the lifetime Eagle a new contract within his desired price range.
Now granted, someone is going to give Graham that contract, something in the vein of $15.8 million a year (as per Spotric), but with Carson Wentz in route for a big payday as soon as 2020, and a slew of their other ‘core’ players like Jordan Hicks, Jalen Mills, and Nelson Agholor also up for new deals, its seems all but impossible to sneak BG under the cap.
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If he’s down to take an under-market contract or a short-term deal, then maybe there’s a chance number 55 will stick around, but if Graham wants to optimize his final big-deal with a four-year contract, it’s probably not going to happen.
Which is a shame, because Graham will go down as one of the best Eagles of the last decade.
While he’s never recorded double-digit sacks in a season and played out of position for almost half of his career thanks to Chip Kelly‘s bad 3-4 scheme, Graham has transformed himself from a major bust (in some fans eyes) into one of the defense’s unquestioned leaders.
Graham also just so happens to be a Super Bowl Champion, which may actually hurt the team’s case to keep him around.
Had the team remained Lombardi-less, then Graham may have held on to a desire to bring his adoptive city a championship, but now, with that out-of-the-way, BG has to focus on getting paid, regardless of who signs his checks in the new year.
Whatever deal Graham signs next spring may in all likelihood may his final in the NFL, so he may as well take the money and run with it, especially if it’s with a team that runs a similarly effective defensive scheme.
Michigan born, raised, and educated, who knows, maybe Graham will follow in LeGarrette Blount‘s footsteps and sign a lucrative deal with Matt Patricia‘s rebuilding Detroit Lions.
Or better yet, maybe Graham and Blount can trade teams, and number 29 can bring his talents back to the City of Brotherly Love? His presence would certainly be a welcomed addition.
But regardless of where he plays next season, or how many games he has left to play in midnight green, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 16 bout against the Houston Texans may very well go down as Brandon Graham’s final game at Lincoln Financial Field after a nine-year tenure with the organization. As Philly fans, let’s make sure he has a worthy send off.
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