Brandon Graham Continues to Soar as Others in his Draft Class have Moved on
PHILADELPHIA - For the first few years of his career, Brandon Graham was always compared to Earl Thomas, as in the safety the Eagles should have taken instead of Graham in the 2010 NFL Draft.
So now, 10 years after Thomas was picked immediately after the Eagles took the defensive end with the 13th overall pick, it is only fair and right to point out that Thomas isn’t on a roster at the moment. That he has burned bridges in Seattle and Baltimore and was considered not worth the character risk of signing by the Houston Texans.
That’s not to say Thomas didn’t have a standout career, but it is Graham, who, at the age of 32, chugs on.
BG, as he is affectionately known by teammates and coaches, is tied for third in the NFL in sacks with six, trailing only Myles Garrett (9.0) and Aaron Donald (8). Graham ranks third in tackles for loss with nine behind T.J. Watt (12) and Vince Williams (12) and is the only player in the league with six-plus sacks and nine-plus tackles for loss.
“I think he’s playing at an elite level,” said Eagles defensive line coach Matt Burke. “I really do. I think sometimes Brandon gets overlooked a little bit. ... I think he’s playing at a high, high level.
“At this point in the season, I’d put him up against any guy in the league from production numbers, rush numbers, sacks, TFLs, hits, he’s just been very productive.”
Graham has yet to receive any individual accolades, but this could be the season. Accomplishing that would mean he gets a picture of himself in action hung on a hallway wall inside the team’s South Philly training facility.
“I will say this is the best start I’ve had since I’ve been here even during the year we won the Super Bowl, ended up getting some (sacks) in the beginning and some toward the end, but I think this has been the most consistent I’ve been as far as back to back games with sacks," said Graham on Wednesday as the team practiced for Sunday night's visit from the Dallas Cowboys.
"For me, I’m excited because I’m feeling good, and I’m happy where I am and hopefully, I can get up on that wall. That’s always been a goal of mine, get up on the Pro Bowl wall. This year I’m trying to go All-Pro, too. I’m trying to do it all, trying to get a ring and get some individual accolades because of how I’m feeling."
How Graham is feeling now is much better than in previous seasons thanks to a new diet, one that is healthier and more disciplined.
“He doesn’t look like a guy who’s got a ton of miles on him,” said Burke. “He’s been high energy and performing at a high level, and I give him all the credit on what he did this offseason and how he approached coming into the season to allow himself to sort of play the way he’s been playing."
Graham said that not being able to go out on the road, due to COVID-19 restrictions, has helped his diet. It used to be the Eagles would arrive in a city and go out for a meal and try that city’s cuisine, or at least what that city is known for food-wise.
“You get tired of (eating healthy food) after a while then you want to go eat what you’ve been craving, your cheat meals,” said Graham. “Then your cheat meals turn into everyday meals if you start to create that habit again.
"I felt like the COVID has helped a whole lot in that area. Now that I’ve seen the results, I’m loving what’s going on. It’s motivated me to stay like this and try to make it a lifestyle.”
Taking a look back at Graham’s draft class is interesting.
The No. 1 pick that year?
Sam Bradford.
Many of the players taken ahead of him are gone from the league, such as Gerald McCoy (No. 3), C.J. Spiller (9), and Ryan Mathews (12).
Jason Pierre-Paul is still around. He went No. 15, after Graham and Thomas.
Pierre-Paul is good, but he is on his second team.
And the question is, would he have been the one to strip-sack Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII when the game was winding down?
That has been one of Graham’s traits, to be able to lift his game to an even higher level when needed most.
Recent evidence came on Thursday night when he sealed the Eagles’ 22-21 win with a strip-sack of Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.
“You guys know BG, he’s never lost his energy,” said Burke. “That’s the coolest thing. He’s had as much of an impact for us, with obviously no fans, then limited fans and just having to generate energy and be that guy for the group. He’s awesome.
“He’s just an amazing person to be around. So obviously for him to have success, he’s competing at a high, high level. And league-wide, right now, I’d put him up there with the top guys.”
Get the latest Eagles news by joining the community. Click "Follow" at the top right of the EagleMaven page. Mobile users click the notification bell. And please follow me on Twitter @kracze.
