Adrian Fedkiw
Brandon Graham has played himself into a big pay day, he might be getting it soon.
CBS Sports’ Jason La Confora is reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles and Graham are working on a contract extension.
Graham is signed through 2018, but the Eagles realize his value to the team and are known for trying to extend their core players this time of year, before the season ends. They are hopeful of completing an extension for the pass rusher, and have an ongoing dialogue with his representatives. The Eagles gave an indication of their opinion of Graham, a first-round pick in 2010, before the season when they added some incentives to his contract. He’s been something of a late bloomer, but a player who fits very well in their scheme under coordinator Jim Schwartz and who is having a career year.
Graham is set to turn 30 in April and with his contracting expiring after next season, he’s undoubtedly trying to capitalize on his outstanding play the last two seasons with potentially one more big extension to provide him the long-term security he wants. Extending Graham would also keep the quartet of Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan, Derek Barnett and Graham in Philly for the long haul. Barnett and Jernigan are signed through 2021, while Cox is here until 2022.
Graham has a cap hit of $7.5 next season, which might be lowered with the new extension. It would free up minimal cap space, but every million is important for next season if the Eagles want to re-sign Alshon Jeffery and Nigel Bradham. The Eagles currently have the second lowest amount of cap space available for next season.
The late bloomer Graham has six sacks so far this season, but his ability to set the edge in the running game and make plays down the line is a big reason why the Eagles have the No. 1-ranked run defense.
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