When a franchise legend like Brandon Graham hangs up his cleats, it’s not just a position that opens up — it’s a voice in the locker room, a presence on the sideline, and a tone-setter on the field. After 15 seasons, Graham walked away a champion, leaving the Eagles with more than just a gap on the edge. They’re now looking for someone who can carry the same fire, same energy, and same leadership into a new era.
There’s no shortage of candidates to fill that void. Veterans like Zach Baun are back, and Jalen Carter’s already making noise in the trenches. But according to Graham himself, there’s another name fans need to watch. Someone who’s been quietly soaking up every lesson over the past two seasons and is now ready to make some noise of his own.
Brandon Graham’s Prediction for Philadelphia Eagles New Defensive Leader
Graham appeared on Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast, “New Heights,” and predicted that Smith would lead the Eagles’ defense for the foreseeable future. The third-year linebacker out of Georgia learned under Graham for his first two seasons and looks ready to take over the role that Graham left behind.
“And now Nolan, it’s like, man, you the one now,” said Graham about Smith being in charge of the defense.
The Legend, BG, on @newheightshow talking about who he expects will step up as a leader in his place going forward & the name he mentions is Nolan Smith
Jason mentions how Nolan broke out this past year and Travis even jumps in to add how Nolan gave him “fits” in the Super Bowl https://t.co/uZctcNXmie pic.twitter.com/o0dWh43dgZ
— Eagles Ed💍💍 (@EdFromDelco) April 9, 2025
The Eagles lost Graham to retirement and Josh Sweat in free agency, which helped open the door for Smith to make this potential leap to a defensive leader. The Kelce brothers praised Smith’s performance last season, acknowledging that he made a jump from his rookie season. Travis knows this first-hand as he watched the Eagles’ defense terrorize the Chiefs’ offense in Super Bowl 59.
“He made a lot of strides, man. He gave me fits in the game,” said Travis Kelce about the matchup against Smith in the Super Bowl.
There are signs that Smith is making the jump he needs to make to be a star in the NFL. Veterans like the Kelce brothers and Graham notice the production Smith is having. The eye test isn’t the only metric supporting this observation either. His statistics increased heavily in his sophomore season from his rookie season.
Smith has 7.5 sacks in his two-year career, with one coming in his rookie season and the other 6.5 happening last season. He more than doubled his tackling output and forced the only fumble of his NFL career in 2024. Smith is on the rise, and with the departures at edge that the Eagles have, there will only be more opportunities for Smith to shine.
Eagles fans should be excited about Smith in an elevated role, and an endorsement from Graham is a great confidence booster. The Eagles’ defense will look slightly different next year without Graham, Sweat, and cornerbacks Darius Slay Jr. and James Bradberry IV. With some veterans out the door, Smith is in a prime position to step up and become a defense leader, as Graham expects him to.