Eagles #1 Pick Brandon Graham: “I’m trying to win rookie of the year”

Eagles first round draft pick Brandon Graham told PhiladelphiaEagles.com that he is aiming high with this goals for his rookie season. He needs to shoot for the moon when you consider that the Birds moved up 11 spots in the first round to get him.

“My expectations are, I’m trying to win rookie of the year,” Graham told PhiladelphiaEagles.com after a morning workout. “I’m trying to win a championship my first year. I’m trying to contribute to help my team get to where we need to be, and I know we’re all going to work hard for each other. That’s the biggest thing, just fight for each other. I believe we’re going to get there.”

He’ll have to get close to double-digit sacks this year if he’s going to win defensive rookie of the year.¬† I think he’ll have the chance to do it, if the offense puts the points on the board that they expected to tally.

I’m sure the Birds are going to do everything they can to get him on the field on third downs if he doesn’t play full time.¬† I expect him to start even though the current starter at the left defensive end position, Juqua Parker, will try to hang onto the starting job.

I think he’ll be lining up with the first team by the second week of training camp if not before then.¬† They want to see his quickness and his tremendous effort coming off the left corner with Trent Cole putting the pressure on from the other side.

Regardless of whether he is inserted into the starting lineup or forced to wait, Graham will have to compete with Parker, Darryl Tapp, who was acquired from Seattle in a trade; and Daniel Te’o Nesheim, who was drafted in the third round.

The youngster has no problem with the competition.

“It’s going to bring out the best in a lot of people because I know how the competition was in college that helped me out a whole lot,” he said. “By my senior year, I was the person people wanted to go against because they knew I would make them better. I was just happy that a lot of people here, they compete until the last snap, the last whistle of the practice.”

Graham says he has no problem with proving himself to people who believe he lacks the size needed to be a star defensive end in this league.

“It’s going to bring out the best in a lot of people because I know how the competition was in college that helped me out a whole lot,” he said PhiladelphiaEagles.com. “By my senior year, I was the person people wanted to go against because they knew I would make them better. I was just happy that a lot of people here, they compete until the last snap, the last whistle of the practice.”