First round draft pick Brandon Graham wanted to get into camp as soon as possible but he also wanted a good contract.  Last night he and the Eagles reached an agreement on a five-year deal, so he got what he wanted.
“It feels good, because I really wanted to get to training camp and Coach Reid really wanted me to get to camp and now it’s time to show them why they picked me,” Graham said in comments distributed by the team. . “I have a lot of work to do, but I’m ready to go.”
The Birds front office is just as pleased about getting the deal done.  “I’m really glad that we were able to work well with Joel Segal on getting this deal done,” said team president Joe Banner. “We’re really excited to get Brandon on the field tomorrow in time for the start of the first full-team practice.”
Graham will be lining up at the left defensive end position and battling veteran Juqua Parker along with off season acquisition Darryl Tapp for the starting spot and playing time.
Of course Graham and Tapp have been brought in here to provide consistent pass rush pressure from the defensive left side, so that offenses won’t be able to double-team Eagles All-Pro defensive end Trent Cole.
The Eagles are hoping that Graham will be the second-coming of Indianapolis Colts pass rusher, Dwight Freeney.¬† Like Freeney Graham is on the short side.¬† He’s quick off the ball and tenacious when he engages with offensive linemen.
I think Graham will have to figure out a series of moves which will work against NFL offensive lineman, who are bigger, quicker, stronger and smarter than any of the blockers he was going against in the Big Ten.
Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott spoke about the need for the team to be able to put pressure on the opposing quarterback without relying on the blitz.   This is the main reason they moved up in the draft to get Graham.
I’m sure the Birds don’t want to put too much pressure on their secondary which will likely have a rookie, Nate Allen, starting at one of the safety spots.
Congrats to B Graham, his agent and to the Eagles Front Office for getting this completed in a timely manner. Great things are expected and I believe B Graham will go down as of the Best Draft Selections
in the entire 2010 Draft and will contribute very early on while on his way to a very good career with the Eagles. I see him as a T Cole type of player who is a good 2 years more advanced then when Cole come out of College… Cole,Graham,Tapp and Parker should be the best Rotation at DE the Eagles
have had since the old Buddy Ryan Eagle Defense days.. I am excited to watch him play ..
I saw Andy one week before the draft and told him I liked Graham in the first round. I can’t wait to see him play.
I understand that the Atlanta Falcons,NY Giants and NE Pats all had Graham on the their Draft Boards as their top choice and that the NE Pats were also trying to make a deal with Broncos to to grab him at 13th pick..
should have drafted earl thomas and looked to draft a DE next year. Lots of solid DE coming out next year and not too many good safetys. We must fire andy reid. I have a gut feeling this is his last year as coach.
I had dinner with Andy Reid and Graham about a week ago and both told me he (Graham, not Andy) is going to kick some assets. We just need to get everyone in shape and healthy in camp and we’ll be redy to rock.
Sorry, Vricchini. Andy’s not going anywhere.
I had dinner with my buddy the other day and told him I think we will have an up and down season.
Yeah and I had dinner with Jesus and he said the eagles will finish last in their division.
That’s crazy, I didn’t notice Jesus, but I dined with vricchini and he said that meal was terrible and had a panic attack and was escorted out of the restaurant by EMTs – AND ALL THIS BEFORE THE WAITER EVEN BROUGHT THE MENUS!
I see where you are going with this Schiller. Am I not entitled to an opinion?
Vr – of course you are – and I’m not in any position to deam you entitled either way. Everyone is entitled to an opinion – no matter what. But my opinion is that baseless negativity and predicitions before game 1 are utter bullshit, that’s all.
To Vricchini..
I wouldn’t take to much from what “Jesus”, according to what his friend “Judas” told me over some
light lunch and heavy drinks recently, is that “Jesus” is really a “Closet Cowboy Fan” and in Jerry Jones’ back pocket for whatever it’s worth…
PM: A joke that is humorless and perhaps offensive