Overriding Eloquent Model's constructor...

CustomAttribute.php

<?php

namespace App;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
/**
 * @version 1.0
 */
class CustomAttribute extends Model
{
    private $attributeRanks;
  
    public function __construct(array $attributes=[])
    {
        parent::__construct($attributes);
      
        // Not sure if this makes things better
        $this->attributeRanks = attribute_ranks();
    }  

    public function rank()
    {
        return $this->attributeRanks->get($this->attribute, 99);
    }
}

CustomAttribute2.php

<?php

namespace App;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

/**
 * @version 2.0
 */
class CustomAttribute extends Model
{
    public function rank()
    {
        return attribute_ranks()->get($this->attribute, 99);
    }
}

There was this requirement to sort a list of models before rendering in a view. There wasn't really any field that I could rely on to sort. So, added this logic into the model's constructor. Later changed it to a helper function and got rid of constructor overriding.

Suggestions are welcome.