Heading toward the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4, all the talk surrounding the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles was the team potentially trading star wide receiver A.J. Brown. However, that didn’t happen, with general manager Howie Roseman claiming Brown was too valuable to trade.
Even though Brown was dealt before the deadline, the Eagles were still active, as they pulled off a trade for 26-year-old linebacker Jaelen Phillips in a deal with the Miami Dolphins, which was an interesting move with veteran defensive end Brandon Graham coming out of retirement to rejoin the team.
Brandon Graham Opens Up About Eagles Bringing in Jaelan Phillips
GettyJalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles under pressure by Jaelan Phillips.
With the Eagles bringing in another formidable pass rusher ahead of Graham’s return to the field, there was bound to be a reaction from the two-time Super Bowl champion.
“I’ve been around for a long time,” Graham said during media availability on Saturday. “If we got a team the way we do right now. He felt like he was a couple pieces away. We always, every time I’ve been here, we always have a deep edge rushing room. I look at it like iron sharpening iron, and that’s just the truth. You have to have other irons in here in order for us to keep getting better. It’s motivating.
“When I was young, you know, okay, you are trying to replace me. You have to try to fight those hard little things you’ve got in your head. … Nah, man. He’s here to help us, and at the same time, if we can work together and go out there, there are so many plays for everybody.”
Graham was asked to share his thoughts on Phillips before the Eagles’ newcomer makes his debut with the team on Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.
“Man, I just feel like he’s coming in and wants to see how we do it,” Graham said of Phillips. “I told him, ‘Do it the way you do it. Bring your personality, but around here, we just work. It’s just one day at a time, and if you see something, say something. If there’s something you have a suggestion on, we always open all ears because we don’t know everything and we’re trying to learn, too.’
“We’re always asking about how Miami was and what’s the difference you see from here from Miami, and it’s similar because obviously Mr. [Jeffrey] Lurie and [Stephen M.] Ross, they both are together, so they run a similar ship. It’s just we’ve been doing it a little better over here right now.”
Clearly, Graham is embracing Phillips and moving forward with the right mentality to make the Eagles that much better in the second half of the 2025 NFL season.
Eagles Face Tough Two-Game Stretch
GettySaquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles.
After getting the best of the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants in consecutive weeks, the Eagles will have their hands full with the Packers on Monday and then the Detroit Lions in Week 11 at Lincoln Financial Field.
This two-game stretch against two NFC heavyweights will be a true test for the Eagles to see if this squad is for real and if the addition of Phillips and the return of Graham make this squad that much more dynamic on the defensive side of the football.
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