INDIANAPOLIS - Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has earned an endorsement from an observer of his most recent work.
Quiant "Q" Myers, from the "Locked On Raiders Podcast" and the Raiders Radio Network, visited this week at the NFL Scouting Combine with Wes Uhler and Matt Williamson on "The Drive," on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Graham spent the last four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Raiders, after stints coordinating defenses with the New York Football Giants (2020-21) and the Miami Dolphins (2019).
And Myers is a fan of how Graham does his business.
"I have a lot of respect for Patrick Graham," Myers emphasized. "I think he did a lot with very little. I think he did some really good things."
The Raiders finished 17th in rushing defense, 14th in passing defense, 14th in total defense, 25th in scoring defense, and tied for 27th in takeaways in 2025.
Myers maintained several factors contributed significantly to such statistics because Graham was "put in a position where he didn't really have dominant players and he had to try to figure it out."
"He has a calling card, but he also understands who he has with him, the personnel, so he's able to adjust to it, Myers added. "He's mostly single-high (in preferred coverage). He likes to be able to use bump-and-run but you have to have the corners to do it, right? So sometimes you have to protect these guys with zone.
"For the most part, his defense will keep you in games. And if they have really good players, which obviously the Steelers do, they'll be able to execute."
Myers also appreciates Graham's approach to the game.
"He's all football all the time," Myers said. "He's thinking football all the time and always trying to come upon with something new and creative. What are the trends that he's seeing and how can he defeat them?
"He's very smart, a sharp guy."
Myers also speculated about the freedom to make plays Graham afforded edge rusher Maxx Crosby in the Raiders' schemes potentially being something Graham might consider with regard to how T.J. Watt is deployed by the Steelers' new defensive staff.
"Maxx does get that freedom," Myers said. "I think T.J. Watt's really going to like Patrick Graham and I know Patrick Graham is going to love T.J. Watt."
SONNY'S DAY: Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles was an athletic sensation on the first day of on-field activity at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Styles, 6-foot-5, 244 pounds, ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.46, tied with Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese), had the highest vertical leap (431/2") and the longest broad jump (11'2") among the defensive linemen, edge rushers and linebackers on display.
For some historical context provided by NFL Research, Styles' 40-yard dash was faster than Derwin James (4.47), Styles' 10-yard split (1.56) was quicker than Adrian Peterson (1.57), Styles jumped higher than DK Metcalf (401/2"), and Styles jumped further than Myles Garrett (10'8").
Styles' vertical was the highest by a player 6-4 or taller since 2003 and the second-highest jump from a linebacker since 2003 behind Penn State's Cameron Wake in 2005 (451/2").
Styles' vertical was also the highest by any player 240-plus pounds since 2003.
And, last but not least, Styles became the heaviest player at the Combine since 2003 to have a vertical of 43" or higher and a broad jump of 11' or longer. No other player weighing 230 or more has matched those two standards since 2003.
RUNNING GAME: The defensive linemen averaged 4.829 in the 40, which edged out the 2023 group's 4.831 for the fastest at a Combine since 2003.
The linebackers' average 40 of 4.55 was also the fastest at a Combine since 2003.
REACH FOR THE STARS: USC's Eric Gentry checked in as the tallest linebacker (6-65/8) and the linebacker with the largest wingspan (861/4") at a Combine since 2003.
He's also the second-lightest linebacker (221 pounds) at the 2026 Combine.
According to NFL Research, Gentry's wingspan is larger than many notable NBA players, including Isaiah Hartenstein (861/4"), Onyeka Okongwu (86"), Draymond Green (851/4"), Mikal Bridges (85") and Al Horford (843/4").
Gentry played basketball initially before a coach told him, "You can either be another 6-6 basketball player or a 6-6 football player no one has ever seen before."
