Brandon Graham Comes Out Of Retirement To Sign With Eagles

Brandon Graham is not done with the Eagles or the NFL yet. Despite announcing his retirement this past off-season, the longtime Eagle will suit up once more, joining the Eagles 7 games into the season.

This will be Graham's 16th season in an Eagles jersey. His last one was cut short when he tore his tricep vs the Rams in week 12. He attempted to return for the Super Bowl, only to reinjure the same tricep. But in those 11 games, he managed to move into 3rd all time on the Eagles sack leaderboard, passing Clyde Simmons. He actually passed Clyde Simmons (who had 76 in 124 games) in that Rams game.

Now Graham will get a chance to pad those numbers. He needs 9 to pass Trent Cole, which feels unlikley unless he also returns for a 17th season. He is 47.5 off of Reggie White, which speaks to the greatness of White who got 124 in just 121 games with the Eagles.

It also gives Graham the chance to build on his franchsie record for games played. He currently sits at 206. 13 more than Jason Kelce who is in 2nd, and 41 more than Lane Johnson who is the next active leader. If Graham can take the field following the bye week, it would give him 9 more games he can play.

It also obvioulsy gives him a chance to win a 3rd Super Bowl with the Eagles. Lane Johnson and Jake Elliott are the only other Eagles left who played for both the 2017 and 2024 Super Bowl teams.

It may have been Graham's plan all along, but given the Eagles situation there certainly was some desperation on their end. They are light at Edge. Even coming into the season it was a postition that lacked depth. Za'Darius Smith was supposed to add depth, but he retired a few weeks after signing with the Eagles. Then Nolan Smith went on the IR, Ogbo Okoronkwo sustained a season ending injury, and recently Azeez Ojulari got banged up making his status unclear.

The Eagles should get Nolan Smith back after the bye week. He is active to return this week, but more likely they will give him the extra week. So for now, the Eagles will stick with Jalyx Hunt, Patrick Johnson, and then Jihaad Campbell playing out of position. There is still a chance Ojulari can suit up, but we won't know until later in the week.

So in Graham, the Eagles get much needed depth. Graham was having a solid season last year before the injury. Not just as a pass rusher, but as a run stopper. Two areas where the Eagles could use the help.

Bill Colarulo teased the story earlier in the day, when he reported on the air that a deal was "pretty much a done deal."