Eagles DE Brandon Graham told reporters (per Jeff McLane) on Thursday that while he would prefer to have long-term stability in terms of his contract situation, he’s fine playing out the final year of his current deal.
Graham added that he expects to be off crutches next week following an offseason ankle surgery he underwent back in March, per McLane. However, Graham didn’t put a timetable on his return, but said he’s ahead of schedule and planning to be ready by Week 1.
This past February, Graham mentioned that he was looking for a new contract this offseason and was hoping to remain in Philadelphia and retire as a member of the Eagles.
“For me, it’s all about getting as much as you can while you can play because when it’s over, it’s over,” Graham said, via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I know Howie [Roseman] and those guys, if they want me here, they’re going to make sure that they get me here. For me, I want to be here. Everybody knows I want to be here. They see the passion I have and I’m happy to be able to bring the trophy back to Philly. Now, it’s just all about just making sense, just getting me protected for the future. Because obviously I want to retire here and I know I’m going to retire here because I’ve been here a long time. I would love to retire here. It’s all on what they want to do. I’m just going to embrace it, whatever it is.”
Before the 2017 season, Philadelphia actually added some incentives to Graham’s contract that could also increase his 2018 base salary by as much as $750,000 by totaling 12 sacks. If he registers seven sacks, his salary will increase by $250,000 and can increase by another $250,000 by reaching nine sacks. Should he make the Pro Bowl on the original ballot or is voted to first- or second-team All NFL Team, his base salary will increase another $250,000.
Graham, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Eagles back n 2010. He is entering in the final year of his four-year, $26 million contract that included $14 million guaranteed and is set to make a base salary of $6.5 million in 2018.
In 2017, Graham appeared in 15 games for the Eagles and recorded 47 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one recovery returned for a touchdown and two pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 8 edge rusher out of 106 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 25 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
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