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Why the New Orleans Saints should not bring back Jimmy Graham

By Daniel Benitez

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Jimmy Graham #80 of the Green Bay Packers makes a catch against Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFC Championship game at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Jimmy Graham #80 of the Green Bay Packers makes a catch against Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFC Championship game at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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With free agency on the horizon, NFL teams will start to release players to create room in their salary caps to capture elite talent. If Jimmy Graham is released, should the New Orleans Saints bring him back?

The Green Bay Packers reportedly are moving on from tight end Jimmy Graham after two seasons. A former New Orleans Saints’ star Graham, 33, was expected to make $8 million and it would carry an $11.6 million salary cap hit, according to NFL Network’s Nick Shook.

This move means that the Packers feel like they can replace Graham’s talents with younger and more productive players. In Green Bay, Graham caught 93 passes for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns, a clear sign of declining skill after his breakout in New Orleans.

Drafted out of Miami in 2010, Graham made three Pro Bowl appearances as a Saint, hauling in a total of 386 receptions for 4,752 yards and 51 touchdowns over five seasons.

After a trade to the Seattle Seahawks before the 2015 season, Graham notched two straight Pro Bowl selections in 2016 and 2017, while compiling 170 catches for 2,048 yards and 18 touchdowns in three years.

Back to his current status as a free agent, the Saints should not make an offer to its former draft choice.

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The biggest reason why is the lack of need for the tight end position, with last year’s free agent signing Jared Cook producing a Pro Bowl season.

Cook caught 43 passes for 705 yards and nine touchdowns, a dominant playmaker in New Orleans’ offense outside of wide receiver Michael Thomas.

The other reason lies with the money Graham would ask for.

The Saints do not have much cap room to go around anyways, and spending it on a declining player for a position that does not need any changes would backfire.

Part of why New Orleans traded Graham was because he demanded to be paid like a wide receiver instead of a tight end. He felt that since he lined up mostly in a wide receiver’s position in the slot or on the perimeter, instead of next to the offensive line, he should earn more money annually.

His trade to the Seahawks led to the Saints receiving center Max Unger and a first-round pick (linebacker Stephone Anthony).

New Orleans won that deal and Graham lost his momentum on a track to becoming a Hall of Famer, after he made three Pro Bowls in five years and dominated at the tight end position.

Look for Graham to sign a relatively cheap deal to a contender looking for a tight end with veteran experience, perhaps the New England Patriots could make that move happen.

Next. Top 30 players in New Orleans Saints’ history. dark

And one thing is certain is that Graham should, and will, not return to the Big Easy.

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