New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Jimmy Graham's contract has been a non-story this summer. And that's a huge credit to Jimmy Graham.

The Saints' star tight end could have made a strong case for holding out of training camp and demanding a new contract. He's scheduled to make $1.323 million in the final year of his rookie deal, when his market value is probably closer to $10 million per year.

But Graham said that's just not his way -- which, ironically, is one of many things about him that makes him worth that kind of money.

"You know, it's to each his own," Graham said when asked about other NFL players who choose to hold out in similar situations. "I'm the type of player that it's just about football for me.

"You know, I just want to play, man. It's as simple as that."

Later, Graham added, "All I know is after the season we had last year, and now that we're back, I just want to be a part of it. So I'm gonna be here and I'm gonna play with everything I have no matter what."

Good for Graham, and good for his agent Jimmy Sexton, for not forcing the looming contract standoff to become a distraction this summer while the Saints are reveling in their return to normalcy.

Naturally, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Thursday night that he is "absolutely" pleased with how Graham has approached his contract situation so far.

In a perfect world, all these good vibes would continue with the Saints and Graham agreeing to a new megadeal long before the contract talks start to get contentious around next February or March, when a debate over the franchise tag could come into play.

But if we didn't know it already, we certainly learned with quarterback Drew Brees' deal last summer that no player is immune from a good old-fashioned contract standoff.

And Graham's deal could be even more complicated since his market value is harder to gauge as the best of a new breed of dynamic receiving tight ends.

Graham deserves to become the richest tight end in NFL history, surpassing the six-year, $54 million extension signed by the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski last year.

Gronkowski's deal isn't a perfect comparison. It arguably included a discount, since Gronkowski was just two years into his rookie deal when he signed it. And it also included an opportunity for the Patriots to opt out of the final four years (a realistic possibility because of his injury issues).

Regardless, that $9 million per year should represent a floor for Graham's value, especially since Graham has been more durable.

But how much more is Graham worth? Will a nice, round figure like six years, $60 million get it done?

Read more: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL | NOLA.com

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Not this season he doesn't.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Its criminal how much they pay these guys.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

This guy is a class act and deserves every dollar he gets, hope he doesn't get hurt. How many guys would be in camp with no future contract, I personally haven't seen or herd of one yet. Pay the man he's earned it with his play and character.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

He's top 5, but highest paid in NFL history? No way.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Highest paid requires consistently best TE in the NFL, or MVP on a team.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Let's talk... next year.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Rob Gronkowski is the highest paid TE as of now; 6 years 54 million. I can't see how we could have the cap with Drews cap hit to make Graham the highest paid TE

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

I hope Brees comes off something to keep Graham next year. He needs to eliminate those drops now that hes healthy though.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

TE is the most recent position in the nfl to run a muck and looks to be a big pay day for him. were the money will come from to keep him i have no idea

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Drew's cap hit only goes up 1m next year. He will restructure or extend in 2015 which is the 4th year and when his salary goes up.... He is not in the top 10 salaries in the entire league until 2015.

He doesn't even make the top 6 QB salaries in 2015.

A lot has changed since his contract in 2012.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Isn't Gronk's contract actually over 8 years? Either way it is big.

In reality you need to look at what Graham has actually achieved thus far. He has been brilliant on the whole. However in his first season he wasn't consistently used until the last 5 games. His second season was superb. His third season was very good but he suffered from an injury and did drop several passes (the injury can too easily be leaned on as an excuse). That's all we have to go on.

Can this guy be great? He sure can. But let's not forget that Brees helps make everyone really good as well. Tieing up a $60 million 6 year deal (or something in that region) is a huge commitment for someone that is not fully proven. Let's not also forget that in theory we may only have Drew 3 more years. Would Jimmy be so great with a lesser QB behind him?

Don't get me wrong, I think Jimmy is aweomse. 'Fave' player, wear his shirt to the games etc etc but do we wrap up a big money deal right now? No. I would see this season out on less money. If he has a big season this season then look to pay the man and expect to pay him in the region of 'The highest paid TE in NFL history'. Don't also forget that this amount would be 'cheap' for a WR of the same quality and numbers and that's where we line him up A LOT.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Excellent point. That never occurred to me.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

A deal will get done.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

I also think that a players maturity is worth a lot and doesn't seem to get factored in at times. JG goes out there and does it with no bad press and no problems, just like Marques Colston.

Gronkowski has far too much press and likes the sound of his own voice. Hernandez ... well.

The deal will get done. We'll have the greatest TE of all time. He will go HoF. After helping the Saints to 3 back-to-back Superbowls ;)

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

What if he were only the 8th highest paid?

In 1 year there will be 15 guys just like him available to draft. They will have had 3 years of college ball and more reps than Graham had until last year.

Should I dangle keys in front of you, too?

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

So use a draftpick on an unproven college player or keep a player that is arguably one of the best at his position in the league? Not quite sure I see your logic there.

If your thinking is purely based on money then could we not have applied the same argument to the massive contract we gave Drew Brees? Should we not have gone after a QB in the draft instead?

*Yes I appreciate Brees is more proven than JG and this isn't an apples for apples argument* :)

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

And for the moment the Saints have not offered him a contract or extension, and Jimmy has not asked for one... Which sort of make all of this drama moot.

Did any of you happen to catch the interview with JG yesterday on the NFL Network where he was asked about contract? The man really doesn't care, he wants to play for the Saints, he wants to play with Brees, he wakes up every day feeling blessed that he even is allowed to play in the NFL with and for the team that he does.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Absolutely. But this is the way we are all manifesting our excitement that the season start is so. damn. close! :)

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Season has started brother... We just do not have games to mull over yet. This is the time where we build what will transpire once game play starts.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Watch:
Jimmy Graham "I have a lot of pride in how I play"

They cover the contract question a few times...

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

Build it and they will come.

I always refer to The SuperDome as 'My Church'. It's nearly time to join the sermon!

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

The "is he a receiver or is he a tight end?" question is going to be a HUGE question, and is probably going to end up being decided by arbitration or in court, the same way that Drew's dispute about the franchise tag was settled before HIS deal could get done. It will have to happen formally, and work its way through to a solution, so my guess is that no deal is going to happen before that piece of the puzzle gets clarified.

I remember people on here were impatiently freaking out and grumbling about Drew not signing in the spring, while the dispute about his franchise tag was still on the table and ongoing. I am sure they are having conversations about Graham, but nothing is going to get done until that issue of whether he should be paid as a tight end or receiver gets clarified, because millions of potential dollars are on the table.

What people didn't understand in Drew's case with the tag dispute, was that two parties can disagree or have a dispute, but still be on good terms with each other, as soon as it was settled then the deal went forward. It doesn't mean that things are bad or sour at all, or breaking down -- just that there is a sticking point on the terms.

Re: New Orleans Saints' Jimmy Graham deserves to be highest paid tight end in NFL
 

There is no FT on the near horizon for JG so what he is or isn't doesn't matter. Only for franchise tags would it matter and Jimmy has NEVER been listed or claimed to be anything other than a TE.