If it seems like this was forever ago, it was. Brandon Graham was one of the first times we saw concrete evidence of how the Philadelphia Eagles intended to do business. It's always been about building through the trenches. That theory dates back to Buddy Ryan in some ways but rarely was the current and more modern blueprint more on display than it was in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Philly's love affair with dominating at the line of scrimmage didn't begin with Howie Roseman. It dates back to when Howie was first named general manager and learning from Andy Reid when 'Big Red' was pacing the sidelines.
There were exceptions (Jeremy Maclin, Lito Sheppard for instance), but more often than not, Reid drafted an offensive or defensive lineman in Round 1. On one occasion, he traded up to take a defensive end from Michigan over a star-studded safety.
The Eagles select Brandon Graham over Earl Thomas
We remember it like it was yesterday, even though it wasn't. We were still reeling from the Eagles' decision to move off Brian Dawkins in 2009. We never got used to seeing him in the Denver Broncos jersey, but there was hope. Philly traded up to the 13th overall selection, and all they had to do was select Texas Longhorns safety Earl Thomas like we expected them to.
Maybe that will ease some of the pain. That's what we told ourselves. After all, the former Texas Longhorn had recently been named a Consensus All-American and a First-Team All-Big 12 nod to close his NCAA career in 2009.
Philly had other ideas. They drafted a defensive end from the Michigan Wolverines. Brandon Graham was the selection. Wait! What? Don't they know how good Thomas is going to be?
Just like that, die-hard Birds fans were forever going to make comparisons between him and Thomas. At times, things became uncomfortable, but the comparisons didn't last forever. B.G. was the best decision for this team.
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Brandon Graham's selection proves fruitful for the Eagles (and, it's still paying dividends)
15 years... Not bad for a guy who was once labeled as a bust... Earl Thomas is, without question, headed to Canton, Ohio once he is eligible, but the discussions about what he'd look like in an Eagles jersey ended a while ago.
Besides, he's a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan.
B.G., who once feared he'd be released by the Eagles, mentioned during his retirement presser that Trent Cole and Jason Peters helped keep him upbeat. He credited Jim Schwartz with helping him to refocus and elevate. He mentioned his desire to smile "because you never know he needs it".
All that is part of Graham's story, but there's so much more to it. There's his comeback story, the injuries, and his 2016 Second-Team All-Pro selection. There's the Pro Bowl nod in 2020. Frankly, we feel he was robbed of at least a few more.
He deserved to be voted onto the Pro Bowl roster in 2016. We think he deserves an apology for being snubbed in 2017 and 2022, but that's another story for another day. From now on, when we think of March 18, we'll think of the retirement speech of an all-time Eagles icon.
He's also woven into the franchise's fabric, one of the best examples of Philly's longtime desire to build in the trenches and address other needs later. How did that decision to draft B.G. over Earl Thomas turn out? We're glad you asked.
Graham's tenure with the Eagles was the nonfiction version of the Rocky Balboa legend. He's an overcomer who fought his way back every time he was knocked to the canvas. Sure, Earl got off to the scorching start, but slow and steady won the race.
B.G.'s playing days are over now. He probably won't be enshrined in Canton like the guy Philly ignored to select him, but that's okay. His legacy will never be forgotten. He leaves the game five years after Thomas called it a career with two Lombardi Trophies to Earl's one.
B.G. is a shoo-in for the Eagles Hall of Fame. We may even see his jersey retired. He's the author of the greatest and most famous strip-sack in NFL history. Most importantly, Philly's decision to take a chance on him helped lead to a simple yet complex theory.
The defensive line and winning in the trenches will forever be the roadmap to this team's success. He's part of the reason why Howie Roseman learned to take Jordan Davis over Kyle Hamilton. He's also one of the reasons why Jalen Carter, Cam Jurgens, and Landon Dickerson are huge parts of this team's young core.
And, how's this for poetic? Like B.G., Jordan Davis was the 13th player taken in Round 1, albeit a dozen years later.
There will never be another B.G., but if Philly finds something in the neighborhood, they're liable to strike gold again.
Rest easy young man! Thanks for all you've given to the organization. Now, kick those feet up. We'll take it from here.