WhoDat!656

The Saints have not always made it an urgent priority to get extensions done with players before they enter their contract year (see Drew Brees), but our sources expect the team to at least engage in the conversation with TE Jimmy Graham this offseason.

Graham is in the third year of the four-year deal he signed as a rookie third-round pick, and his salary in 2013 will rise from the $540,000 he will make this season to $575,000 — a huge bargain for one of the league’s top pass-catching tight ends.

However, before the Saints can get serious about rewarding Graham or making any significant free-agent signings, they are going to have to make roster cuts and restructure contracts with some of their highest paid players on the roster to give themselves some salary-cap flexibility. Graham’s numbers have dipped after his breakout 2011 season, but he is still among the most productive tight ends in the league with 69 catches for 779 yards and eight touchdowns.

If the Saints and Graham have not agreed to a new deal by the end of next season, it does not mean his time with the Saints will be coming to an end —they will be able to designate him as their franchise player in 2014.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Graham's contract will draw Saints' attention

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

Marlboro Man

While I would hate to see us franchise Graham due to the ill will generated by the move, I am at least happy with the fact that the Saints usually do right by the player when we do have to use the tag and I feel that our players know that the only reason we do use the tag is to gain time to hammer out a longer deal that's better for the team and the player.

Rugby Saint II

Loomis makes me nervous as hell when he waits to work out an extension.

Danno

Keep in mind Loomis tried to work out a contract for Brees in 2011, but Brees said no f'in way.

TheOak

Premature extensions are gambles for the players........ They don't like them unless they are needy players.

westbankdaze

Dude did not earn a raise this year. Sorry.

lee909

Do not agree at all.
Work through the season injured without complaining.70 receptions,8TDs nearly 800yards in 13 games.
While he hasn't been the Graham of last year,he has played well.He and Gronkowski are so far above every other TE its ridiculous.

UK_WhoDat

Yes to both of you because he did not earn a raise, per se.

But he continued to convince those in the game and those who watch the game that he deserves to be earning as much as any other TE.

Consider the guy earns over $2m less than the 10th best paid TE at the moment.

For me, either strip $2m off each of those other guys or you add $2m plus* to our bro' Graham.

* Did I write plus, I meant plus, plus, plus

Vrillon82

perhaps cut Vilma?

TheOak

No, did not prove he deserved as much as any TE. In the top 5 in the NFL in drops does not prove such a thing.