The 2010 Brandon Graham Trade: Philadelphia Paid Up and Found a Franchise Eagle
Philadelphia jumped from No. 24 to No. 13 for Brandon Graham. The price was substantial, but Graham's 15-year Eagles career and championship impact made the move age exceptionally well.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2010 first-round pick, No. 24 overall
- pick 2010 third-round pick, No. 70 overall
- pick 2010 third-round pick, No. 87 overall ( Eric Decker )
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 2010 first-round pick, No. 13 overall ( Brandon Graham )
Trade Summary
Denver sent the No. 13 pick to Philadelphia for Nos. 24, 70 and 87. The Eagles selected Brandon Graham, who became a 15-plus-year franchise leader and delivered the defining strip-sack of Super Bowl LII. Denver used No. 87 on Eric Decker and leveraged Nos. 24 and 70 in separate moves that helped acquire Demaryius Thomas and Tim Tebow. Both sides created exceptional value.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
On April 22, 2010, Philadelphia moved from No. 24 to No. 13 and selected Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham. Denver received the No. 24 selection and two third-rounders, Nos. 70 and 87. The Broncos later used No. 87 directly on receiver Eric Decker, while the other two choices became ingredients in additional first-round trades.
What Philadelphia Received
Graham became the kind of player who can justify an expensive trade-up. He spent more than a decade and a half with the Eagles, became a respected defensive leader and produced one of the most important plays in franchise history: the fourth-quarter strip-sack of Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII. His longevity and championship impact made No. 13 an outstanding use of Philadelphia's consolidated capital.
How Denver Reused the Picks
Denver did more than simply make three selections. The Broncos packaged No. 24 with another pick to move to No. 22 for Demaryius Thomas. They included No. 70 in a separate package to acquire No. 25 for Tim Tebow. No. 87 stayed with Denver and became Decker, who developed into a productive starting receiver. Those downstream moves gave the original return unusual breadth.
Why Both Sides Can Claim Success
Philadelphia obtained one franchise-defining player. Denver used the same transaction to help shape a new offensive core, including Thomas and Decker, while also creating the Tebow opportunity. It would be misleading to credit every later acquisition solely to this trade, but the incoming picks were direct components of those moves.
Final Verdict
Both teams earn an A and the call is Even Trade. Philadelphia got exactly the long-term cornerstone it targeted. Denver transformed the return into multiple consequential assets. Few draft-day trades produce such strong and memorable value for both participants.
Graham's Philadelphia legacy and Denver's asset tree both delivered exceptional value.