Brandon Brooks is a special person to the Philadelphia Eagles and to the team’s owner Jeffrey Lurie. He speaks highly of his teammates and the Eagles’ ownership. As for the future, Brooks has hopes of enrolling in graduate school. He wants to become a doctor and hopes to play in the NFL again.
In his first season back after an Achilles injury, Brooks won the PFF Bruce Matthews Award, given to the best offensive lineman. Brooks has consistently graded in the top-10 at his position. He has only allowed four sacks in his four seasons, and his ability to make blocks on the move was apparent. He has also shown great versatility outside of the base zone offense. That kind of play deserves praise.
In terms of the offensive tackle position, Brooks and Kelce are both ranked as elites. The Saints’ Kelce is ranked number one, while the Green Bay Packers’ Bakhtiari and EA’s Schwartz rank high. The Packers’ Bakhtiari and Ramczyk are not. Brooks has a good chance of making the top team in the NFC.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a good offensive line. Despite Brooks’ absence, the team’s line has been impressive in the postseason. Overall, the Eagles’ offensive line is one of the best-graded in football. Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and Jason Kelce all rank inside the top-10 at their positions. Landon Dickerson is the 34th-ranked guard overall.
Brooks was a third-round draft pick by the Texans in 2012 and spent his first four seasons with the team. He signed a free-agent contract with the Eagles in 2016 and made three Pro Bowl appearances. In 2017, he helped the Eagles win their first Super Bowl. His outspokenness regarding mental health could be a larger part of his legacy than his play.
Brooks announced his retirement on Wednesday. After playing 10 years in the NFL, he had an injury-filled career. He ruptured his right Achilles tendon during the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints in 2018, but returned to play every game in 2019. The next year, he suffered another Achilles tendon tear and missed the entire season. This season, he has only played two games.
