As tight a pickle as this is....Its a good position to be in.

Better than plenty-o-cap and no talent.

We love what Graham can do, but he does it because of all the other things we do.
Graham is head and shoulders above most other tight-ends, but if he left for the cash,
I am more than sure we would find someone else to catch the ball in the middle.
He wouldn't be Jimmy Graham, but I think we COULD be OK in that spot.
How many spots could we really sacrifice to give Graham $12 mil a year?
We could get 3 tight-ends for that kind of money, split those 6-7 catches by committee.
The new winners reality is that we can't reward everybody.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this. Before Graham, the only other pass catching TE's we've had in the past 20 years was Billy Miller and Shockey with both of them at the downside of their careers when we got them. We've gone through quite a lot of TE's and can't find any that can make the tough catches to move the chains. It would be a terrible mistake if we let Graham get away.

I agree Buds....

Jimmy's ability and performance is not because of all the other things we do, just as Brees performance is not because of the same reason.

In the case of graham, I would have to say he is as good as he is in spite of what we do.

To have a TE with the 7th most receiving yards, 4th most TD's, and the 3rd most receptions in a season; in a offense where the ball is spread so much speaks volumes for Grahams ability.

Graham and Gronk are the only TE that break the top 26 for receiving yards, and the only two that break the top 10 for TD's.....

Personally I am not happy with "could" be "ok" anymore. We have a champion in Graham, and need to hang on to him.

Brees to Graham is not because of anyone on the team but Graham, Drew KNOWS that no matter what situation Jimmy Graham is in he has the best chance of all of our receivers to come down with the ball and take it forward. That cat had 489 yards after the catch last season.

He has a 0.11 "Win Probability added to game"/per game. That's 4th out of all TE and 11th out of all WR. That is 3rd only behind Brees and Coleston.

Grahams WPA is higher than half the QB's in the entire league.

Yes finally a reason to get rid of the overrated overpaid Will Smith, Jimmy is a game changer type of player. There is no way Loomis lets him test free agency besides the cap increases in the next couple years so there will be money to use ..... everything will be fine