NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

New Orleans Saints star tight end Jimmy Graham is entering the last year of his rookie contract and as a result of his great play, he is extremely underpaid at $1.3 million. The Saints obviously want to keep their young star and when it comes time to give him a new contract, and Graham could be looking for a contract that would make him the highest paid tight end in the NFL.

As of right now, the highest paid tight end in the NFL is Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Jason Witten, with a salary worth about $7.4 million a year. If the Saints were to franchise tag Graham, he could make about $6 million with the tag, but it is rumored that Graham has his eyes set a little higher than that.

Specifically, Graham could be looking for a new deal that would pay him around $10-$12 million a year. With a deal like that, he would certainly be the highest paid tight end in the NFL, but the question would remain, is he worth it?

Graham is absolutely worth the money because he is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Furthermore, Graham plays more of a wide receiver role with the Saints as he often lines up in the slot. The franchise number for a wide receiver is about $10 million, so it would make sense for Graham to be seeking that amount of money give his role in the Saints’ offense.

However, there is no time frame for Graham’s deal to get done and if the Saints want to keep him, they will have to do it before the next off-season, when Graham becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The Saints will likely have to work something out during the 2013 season for Graham’s new contract. With the Saints current salary cap situation, his deal will have to wait, but when it is all said and done, Graham could very well be the highest paid tight end.

Alejandro Aviles is the Featured Writer for the New Orleans Saints at Rant Sports @aaviles312

NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham To Be The Highest Paid Tight End?

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

He'd have to go to a team like the browns or chiefs to accomplish that but good luck

Complete rumour at the minute, whilst he's with us he will not be given the highest salary for a TE

Offer him a new deal if he doesn't accept trade him.We can't afford to loose him got nothing.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

so far one season of production does not give him the right to clam that. top 5 ok. top dollar? lets see what 2013 brings.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

Well said.

Top 5? Yep.

Top TE in the entire NFL? Nope.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

I'm guessing the person who wrote this article's source is Jason Cole of yahoo... who was just speculating.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

He needs quite a few less drops and more YAC for that.

We don't look at this until the end of the 2013 season.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

If he has highest yards and 7-10 TD season, he should be highest paid going into 2014.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

+1. Even the thought of Jimmy 'Dickens' going else where would make me sick.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

He's good with Brees throwing to him and various other weapons on the field to cover.
I don't think he'd do aswell with Jay Culter types and zero weapons to take pressure off him. IMO it would be a bad move on his part to type and land elsewhere for more money

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

I agree. Not hating on Graham at all, and would not trade him for any other TE in the league...ANY! But even my wife pointed that out last year. That he still isn't tough enough yet. He goes to his knees as soon as he catches the ball. There at times that he could break the play for big, big yardage but he instinctively goes right down to his knees. YACs would very much help his stock IMHO.

It looks like he hit the weights in last off-season and came in more muscular than the year before, but his toughness wasn't the same. Yes, i know he was nursing an injury for the most part, but I still think there could have been more toughness shown.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

Don't ya just love "news" about rumours?

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

Pure speculation at this point in time... this coming season will go a long way in determining what the future holds for Mr. Graham.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

STOP BITING ON THE RUMORS, **** DO WE WE NEED TO RELIVE THE BREES/PAYTON SAGAS?

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

LOVE him as a weapon but so far he's completely useless as a blocker. Plus, he also drops alot of passes. It would be nice if Michael Williams would be available late for the Saints.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

I totally agree with you. His YAC is not great and he drops a lot of passes. He's really good but not great.
I guess it's out of the question to ask him to restructure.:rolleyes:

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

I am going to start by saying that i love Jimmy Graham as a player... ok that is out of the way.

OK It is known that Jimmy G credits his game to working with Drew Brees
I think it is about time that Jimmy starts working a litle more with Colston and Moore.

Even though Jimmy has the talent and skillset to be a top 3 tight end I still have an issue with how he catches passes. He has a great wing span and an amazing ability to outstretch for the hard to reach passes BUT when the ball is laced right to him he tends to just catch the ball in his chest instead of bringing it in with his hands.

I knew he was hurt this past season but I have notice this since he stepped into the starting role.

A decent number of passes thrown in to Jimmy are easily deflected by defenders because of how Jimmy likes to catch the ease passes right on his chest with little arm extension instead of catching the ball in his hands in front of him and bringing the ball into his chest

That had nothing to do with his contract situation but its just a little critique about Jimmy that I always see

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

He is quite limber, acrobatic and fast for a tight but he's not the only one. He also looks fragile at times even skinny sort of. He does not fit the general mold for a tight end he does not run over anyone and frequently leaves himself out there to be clobbered. Has not shown me that he is resilant enough or tough enough to make it through a season. I think he brings quite a lot so I do like him What is it with some of these guys I think we get more than any other team guys that demand to be the highest paid across the board. What's up with that ? If his demands are that high let him go or negotiate in good faith. Damn the old football players must be turning over in their graves.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

To me, as good as he is in other fields of his game, the one thing that constantly disappoints me about the way he plays the game is the fact that he goes down way too easily most of the time - his YAC isn't elite caliber, but it's way better than his yards after the initial hit.

A guy with that type of potential for physicality shouldn't be brought down by much smaller corners on a frequent basis - at times it seems that he gives up on the play when he is made contact with and is all too happy to go down with the ball.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

I said that after year 1 and was pummelled about the head and neck.

OK, maybe that wasn't the only reason.:p

He does drop like a rock on contact. I guess thats due to not playing football until his junior year of College. Maybe its a basketball-flop habit he's yet to break.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

He would not look good at all in another uniform.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

Must keep Jimmy.... Our offense wouldn't be as great without jimmy...

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

Even with the inury he made an nice impact. Needs to work on blocking but he's not going anywhere. Teams have to account for him. He's not like other TE's. Don't cover him and he will shred you.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

INJURY PRONE

He doesn't deserve a raise after his disappointing performances last year.

Alaska

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

No one does.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

This is still a year away. Is he gonna out-catch and out-block Gronk? That's when the discussion should start.

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

I really like Jimmy and hope we can keep him, but his season long case of the dropsies makes me doubt that he is worth crazy money just yet.

Sure Payton & Loomis have already told him, have a year like your first and no problem getting paid # 1 money

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

Tagging him next season will pay him about six million per annum; I won't cry for him...

And make some moves for another TE as leverage...

Re: NFL Rumors: Jimmy Graham Looking To Become The Highest Paid Tight End In The NFL
 

First year production was awesome, However,
Last year assessment...........

http://blackandgold.com/attachment.p...1&d=1362409383