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Super Bowl LII: 5 candidates to take home the MVP award

By Peter Panacy

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and New England Patriots' Tom Brady with the Pete Rozelle MVP Trophy during the Super Bowl Winner and MVP press conference on February 6, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and New England Patriots' Tom Brady with the Pete Rozelle MVP Trophy during the Super Bowl Winner and MVP press conference on February 6, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Brandon Graham #55 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates his teams win over the Minnesota Vikings with the George Halas Trophy after the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Minnesota Vikings 38-7. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 21: Brandon Graham #55 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates his teams win over the Minnesota Vikings with the George Halas Trophy after the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Minnesota Vikings 38-7. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

No. 2: EDGE Brandon Graham, Eagles

If there’s one player who can make the Patriots’ offensive life hell, it’s Eagles EDGE Brandon Graham.

Graham led Philadelphia’s top-tier front seven with 9.5 sacks and was also Pro Football Focus‘ ninth-ranked EDGE defender, with a 91.0 overall grade.

While Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is the most disruptive force along Philly’s defensive front, Graham has ended up being a primary beneficiary of opponents using multiple blockers to lock up Cox. And with Graham’s ability to bounce to the edge in nickel formations, as well as lining up on the inside in base downs, it’s safe to say he could have a big game.

If the Eagles defense winds up putting the clamp down on quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots, look for Graham to be the key X-factor en route to MVP honors.