Eagles Re-Sign Brandon Graham
Photo by: Jeff Fusco.
The Eagles re-signed Brandon Graham to a four-year deal that will pay him $6.5 million annually and includes $14 million in guarantees, according to two league sources.
There were several teams interested in the 26-year-old’s services. It came down to the Eagles and Giants. Graham ultimately chose the Eagles after Howie Roseman and company sweetened the deal at the last minute.
“I’m just happy to be back with the Eagles,” he said in a phone conversation with Birds 24/7.
Earlier in the day, there was a level of pessimism emanating from the Graham camp about his chances of returning to Philadelphia. But with Graham ready to split for New York, talks heated up.
Graham registered 5.5 sacks, 46 tackles and 18 hurries despite playing just 43 percent of the defensive snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus. With Trent Cole moving on, Graham is expected to man the starting outside linebacker post opposite Connor Barwin. Increased playing time was at the top of his priority list, and the Eagles assured him that he would get what he’s looking for.
While probably best suited for a 4-3 system, Graham was able to make the transition to the 3-4 outside linebacker role and produced for defensive coordinator Billy Davis. The Eagles tried to lock him up shortly after the season ended but weren’t able to get anything done. Graham was looking for something in the $7-8 million per year range, while the Eagles were reluctant to pay him more than Barwin’s annual salary ($6 million per year average). After testing the market, they were able to find some middle ground.
The Eagles were undoubtedly looking for other options in the time since. Jeff McLane reports that the Eagles are now out of the Jason Worilds bidding. Given their interest in him last offseason, it stands to reason that they would have liked to sign him for the right number.
Instead, they inked a deal with their former first-round pick, who had plenty of ups and downs during his first five years in Philadelphia. He is returning for a second act.