Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports reports that a league mentioned that Saints TE Jimmy Graham could target $12 million per season in his next contract.

Another source informed Cole that Graham will be monitoring the situation regarding Jared Cook, as to whether or not he’s considered a tight end or a wide receiver upon receiving the Titan’s franchise tag. The difference between the two is close to $4 million, which means Graham’s rumored asking price of $12 million annually is much closer to being justifiable in terms of market value.

Cole adds that this distinction could allow him to surpass the contract handed out to Rob Gronkowski (eight-years, $55.23 million with $13.17 million guaranteed) last year.

Graham, 26, has put up gaudy numbers in his first-three seasons in the league. He’s totaled 215 receptions for 2,648 yards and 25 touchdowns over that span. The Saints could always use their franchise tag on him following the 2013 season, but that’s why the decision regarding Cook is such a big deal.

Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Can we deduct 2 million for every drive Graham kills with a crucial drop on 3rd down?

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Sounds fair.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Can we do the same for every interception that Brees throws?

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

I said the exact same thing almost every sunday when brees threw picks, especially his 5 picks in atlanta

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

If he wants $12M per... I say trade him when there's still something to be gained from him, because the Saints can't afford that type of a contract.

So he is going to play for a -$12mm contract? He pays us 12 a year. Should help cap lol

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

I should phone loomis and tell him the plan! Lol

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

You had me for a sec here with that here Twelve Dollar title... lol

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

wow... you beat me to it.
But once again noone wants to assign drew blame.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

That's a stupid contract for Loomis to even approach...

First, he's not a WR but a TE and will not have that long a career...

Two, he's not demonstrated durability, though he's played tough...

Third, he's not the only weapon and that is the strength of this offense...

I'd tag him next year if we haven't traded him for an additional No. 1 this year...

Potential trade partners are Arizona, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Oakland...

With the exception of Arizona, he'd be out of conference so you wouldn't have to worry about him biting you back...

He's a great talent; I love his story; I appreciate him as a person...

...But no way is he worth more than 8mil/annum to this team and it's salary cap...

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

I'm with Fin. If he starts the "I gots to get PAID!" crap; then trade his butt. This team can't afford another big contract. I would be fine with a $12 Milllion 8 year deal.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

PAY THE MAN!!!

and cut half the team to fit under the cap

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Seems like a normal occurrence now doesnt it? lol

Just an example - The bengals are 51 million below the cap this year, they went to the playoffs last year and had one of the top pass rushing defenses

51 MILLION BELOW THE CAP!! its insane

I love brees and all but man, his contract has properly screwed us over, Yeah loomis can always restructure contracts but just think of the amount of talent we could add on defense if brees took a little less than that

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Welcome aboard!

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

If we pay him then it will be just Brees and Graham on the team lol...
and you thought our defense was bad last year!

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

We had a defense last year?

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

thats alot of cheddar. i dont see it myself. the feeling in ne with te getting so much is they will never see that final payday.

2014

Jimmy Graham $665,140

i am expecting a deal in the five-year, $40 million range

Malcolm Jenkins $11,000,000

Zach Strief $1,750,000

David Thomas $1,500,000

Charles Brown $1,310,000

Jonathan Vilma $1,000,000

Will Herring $1,000,000

The rest of the bunch ( < $1,000,000 )

so next year will not be so great for for redoing contract deals except for Jenkins

but wiping players from the books with any major carry over is much better

so keeping one of our better impact player is going to happen

I am not going into the mess the saints have in 2015


option 2 - trade him now

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Yall keep saying trade him but who will replace him? He is a special talant, there are not many guys like him in the league.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Look to college basketball....

So is Shanle

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

This was eerily similar to an Obama tactic...

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

once again, this is some jack ass reporter speculating. The 2 sides will come together and they will work out an agreement.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Jimmy Graham has said something to the tune of 'if I wasn't playing with Drew Brees I would probably retire' so lets just see what happens before we go through this cycle again.
New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham says he'll retire when Drew Brees retires - Video | NOLA.com

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Sounds fair

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

I don't really understand what you are saying in regards to Jenkins? Are you saying the Saints should give him a $11M contract next offseason or are you saying that that would be the going rate for him?!

Jenkins will be on his last contract year with the Saints in 2013 and he is going to be an UFA come next offseason, so we'll see what he can do in a contract year this coming season.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

...and PT was looking for Steven Jackson money.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...Qf-eEMl9z8t6Sw No news here.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

There's that salary cap thing that allows us to compete with the New York, Chicago, and New England Markets...

I know what happens after dudes get paid - they end up sucking cause they don't care any more.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

everyone needs to settle down. it isn't even free agency yet and everyone is going ****ing nuts over yahoo articles about what might happen next offseason...

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Great "insider information" that a player coming up on a contract year will "monitor" what another player gets. Can you say Flacco "monitored" Brees last year.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

yeah you don't trade talent like that, end of story.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Well an organization should if it seems like they won't be able to re-sign such a talent to a long term contract with reasonable compensation and the only way to really get the most benefit out of the said talent is to trade him elsewhere while he is still under contract, and have some other team pay for the talent involved.

The worst case scenario being that he plays out his contract and signs with another team next offseason with the Saints potentially only getting a compensatory pick out of the whole deal.

Now, I personally believe that Graham will re-sign a long term contract with the Saints and the annual worth of it will be much lower than the $12M reported in this "article." But you have to be ready to pull the trigger on a difficult choice if it seems like the best option for the organization in the long run - no matter who the player is and/or what type of talent he has.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

We would do well to remember that we are only as strong as our weakest link.
We need to resource our weakest areas if we want to be always in contention because our very best do not deliver everytime - regardless of their pay structure.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Certainly, and I am not advocating 12M either, but we have to pay him. The guy is top 3 at his position in the league. Just doesn't make any sense to lose talent like that. MJ shouldn't be making 11, if that's accurate. There's a cut we can make to help pay for him.

But yeah- if we can't and we know it is impossible I see your point. I agree- we'll sign him

The way I see it. Graham has had 1 outstanding year, last year was a flop, and his contract is not up till next year. He did not prove or backup anything in 2012.


If you take away 2011, he is an average TE.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/...2/jimmy-graham


He has not proven to be worth 12mm at this point. If you take away the 2011 season and he may have been cut instead of Thomas.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

And these points are valid.

We would be $120M over the cap if we paid on potential. And still be where we are, results-wise.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

Um I just looked it up... he was #2 in the league in yards for TE'S. He was second in TD's. He was third in receptions. What do you consider outstanding?

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

No, they're not. #2, #2, and #3 is fairly outstanding, IMHO

Not being #1 in drops.

Re: Jimmy Graham Could Be Targeting As Much As $12 Annually In His Next Contract
 

He has a lot to prove this coming season. Was it his wrist problem that caused all the drops? More importantly right now, will this thread last through the entire year or will a new one start after next season?