Coming from Parker, who isn't given to overstatement, that's saying a lot, but it is what all Graham's teammates on the defensive side of the ball are seeing. The Eagles moved up 11 places in the draft to take Graham with the 13th pick. He isn't going to take away a starting job from Cole or Parker right away, but the education is moving quickly.
"It's all experience for him, and he's learning every game," Cole said. "He wants to know what moves you use, and how you set them up. He asks about all that stuff. I tell him what to do and tell him it's all about selling the move and when to use it. He's getting to the quarterback. I see him back there all the time."
Graham didn't play much in the preseason opener against Jacksonville and didn't register a tackle. Against Cincinnati, he led the line on the score sheet, registering three tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one additional hit on the quarterback.
"I think he had a positive day," said Andy Reid, another one who doesn't like to overstate.
Graham is very fast for a man 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds. His natural talent at the moment is for pressuring the passer, and he will have to solidify his run defense to stay on the field in all situations.
On obvious passing downs, he's being used at tackle to give the Eagles some pressure up the middle and not allow opponents to concentrate their protection on the ends. His ability to play both positions kept him on the field a lot against the Bengals.
"I couldn't even keep count. It must have been almost 30 plays," Graham said. "And it was evenly split. I was in for some passes and some runs. That's what you fight for, to be out there as long as you can, because you never know what play is going to be yours. You stay out there and you say, 'That's my play.' You don't want to let someone else get your play."
