Brandon Graham is back.
The Philadelphia Eagles are finalizing a deal with their two-time Super Bowl-winning defensive end, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter.
News of Graham possibly coming out of retirement was first reported on Sunday morning. That was even before Azeez Ojulari, who started at edge rusher for the Eagles in Week 7, left the game with a hamstring injury.
The Eagles are obviously really thin at edge rusher. Nolan Smith is on injured reserve (he might return after the Week 9 bye) and Ogbo Okoronkwo is out for the season. Za’Darius Smith unexpectedly retired early last week.
Bringing Graham back should help the Eagles at a position of need. That is, assuming he’s in game shape. Graham was playing at a high level prior to suffering a triceps injury that he re-tore when playing in Super Bowl LIX.
While it’s fun to see BG back on the field for the Eagles, there are some mixed feelings here. As we previously wrote:
BG is my favorite Eagle. He is THE all-time Eagle in my mind.
That being said, I don’t want him to unretire. Not because I don’t think he can’t help this team. I’m actually confident that he can. He was playing really well prior to getting hurt last year. He didn’t retire because he was washed.
BG retired because it was an opportunity to go out on top as a two-time Super Bowl champion. He retired to spend more time with his family, among many other endeavors.
The Eagles are looking really, really thin at edge rusher. So I get wanting to bring him in. And I get BG wanting to help his teammates.
I just really liked how he was able to walk away after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX. That felt so right. BG even said Howie Roseman told him the story was too great when BG had expressed some interest in not retiring.
Assuming he comes out of retirement, there will be a part of me that enjoys seeing him suit up for the Eagles again. But I don’t know if it’s the right decision.
The Eagles don’t need to open a roster spot to sign Graham because they didn’t fill the opening left by Za’Darius Smith retiring last week.
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