ProFootballFocus.com, which grades every NFL player on a per-play basis, has unveiled their list of the 101 players in the NFL. Two Eagles appear on the list; one at No. 76 and the other all the way up at No. 6.
If you're familiar with ProFootballFocus, the identity of their sixth overall player will come as no surprise. If you're new to ProFootballFocus, said player might come as a bit of surprise. LeSean McCoy? DeSean Jackson? Trent Cole? Nope, it's Evan Mathis, the Eagles' left guard, who also ranks as PFF's top offensive lineman in the league. Here's what they wrote:
"It's easy to ignore guards, but when you're looking at an 'all players created equal' list, then you simply have to have Mathis this high. The Eagles may have struggled, but the continued brilliance of Mathis was unavoidable. He might not have the same impact blocks as others, but his continued ability to create movement at the point of attack makes Mathis the best guard in the league.
"Key Stat: Earned a positive grade for his run blocking in all bar one game."
At No. 6, Mathis checked in one spot above Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Further down the list, Brandon Graham's breakout 2012 season earned him the nod at No. 76, three spots ahead of Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
"Season 2012 was something of a glimpse at what Graham is capable of, as he got on the field for only 435 snaps," wrote Khaled Elsayeed. "That, and that alone, was why he didn't finish any higher because he was outstanding when he was on the field. Finishing as the most productive pass rusher in the league, Graham was near unstoppable when he got on the field.
"Key Stat: Turned his 205 pass rushes into 45 combined sacks, hits and hurries. That gave him the best Pass Rushing Productivity rating of any defensive player."
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