Brandon Graham was released Tuesday in an expected, procedural move but could still return to Eagles
The franchise legend, who returned to the team last October, has not officially declared that he is finished with football.
Brandon Graham’s contract with the Eagles was terminated Tuesday in a procedural move based on the language in the contract he signed with the team after they lured him out of retirement seven games into the 2025 season.
But Graham’s time with the only NFL team he has known since the Eagles drafted him in 2010 may not be over. The 38-year-old has not officially retired again, and it remains possible he returns for a 17th NFL season.
A lack of depth at defensive end brought Graham back to the team in October last season. Graham played in nine games and had a limited, rotational role for most of them. His best game came in a Week 15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Graham was moved inside as an interior lineman as the Eagles dealt with a few injuries. He had two sacks on just seven snaps.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman did not rule out Graham returning earlier this offseason when he spoke at the scouting combine.
“Brandon Graham is always welcome in Philadelphia,” Roseman said. “Obviously, when I think about what he’s done for us as a player, as a person, and then last year, even when he came back in, the versatility that he showed, coming in in the end of the year and reducing inside and playing defensive tackle, just an all-time Eagles great, future Eagles Hall of Famer.”
The Eagles have retooled on the edge. They lost Jaelan Phillips in free agency but made a splashy move during draft weekend when they traded for Vikings rusher Jonathan Greenard and signed him to a near-nine-figure deal. Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt remain near the top of the depth chart, and the Eagles also signed free agent Arnold Ebiketie.
