Philadelphia Eagles Rumor: Brandon Brooks could retire this offseason

The 2021 NFL season is over, at least for the Philadelphia Eagles.

What does that mean for fans of the team? You guessed it; it’s time for futures contracts (more on that here), speculation, and some good old-fashioned rumors too.

The first big rumor, to my knowledge at least, revolves around Brandon Brooks, the oft-injured guard who spent all but two games of the 2021 season on IR.

That’s right, according to Luke Stansfield, who describes himself as a film and draft analyst on his Twitter account, a source has asserted that Brooks may opt to retire over the offseason, a move that would severely impact the team’s calculus heading into the 2022 season.

Will it ultimately happen? Only time will tell, but if Brandon Brooks does hang his cleats up for good, he’ll certainly go down as one of the best Philadelphia Eagles of the last half-decade.

Brandon Brooks will eventually leave the Philadelphia Eagles as a signature player of the Doug Pederson era.

For a time, Brandon Brooks was the best guard in the NFL.

An absolute free agent steal who was somehow allowed to walk by the Houston Texans in favor of signing ex-Kansas City Cheifs guard Jeff Allen – who only made it two seasons into his four-year, $28 million contract – Brooks solidified the right side of the Philadelphia Eagles’ line during their Super Bowl run, allowed only four sacks in a midnight green uniform since 2016, and won the PFF Bruce Matthews Award for the best offensive lineman in the NFL for his efforts in 2019.

When healthy, Brooks has been elite. Despite weighing in at 6-foot-5, 335 pounds, Brooks is built like a WWE superstar and can move bodies effortlessly both in the run game and pass protection. Factor in his leadership both on and off the field and Brooks is the model offensive guard, one that every team in the NFL would love to employ.

Unfortunately, Brooks’ body just can’t seem to hold up.

Since January of 2019, Brooks has suffered two torn Achillies and a torn pectoral muscle and has been held out of 32 of the Eagles’ past 34 games as a result. While Brooks could attempt another comeback for the 2022 season, if for no other reason than to get paid $13.4 million off of the four-year $54.2 million deal he signed back in 2019, that might not be what the three-time Pro Bowler wants to do.

No, if this really is the end of the road for Brooks, who are any of us to protest, especially with 2020 fourth-round pick Jack Driscoll looking like a natural fit to take his spot at right guard for years to come?

So Brandon Brooks, if this really is the end of the line, thank you for everything you’ve done during your time in the City of Brotherly Love, from being the best guard in the NFL to your normalization of mental health care. While your time wearing midnight green may soon be done, you will forever be a valued member of the Philadelphia Eagles to those you’ve inspired.