Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham has finished the final year of his rookie deal, leaving the Saints with a couple of choices if they don’t want to risk losing him as a free agent.

They can sign Graham to a long-term deal or they can use the franchise tag, a choice that’s fraught with its own potential trouble for New Orleans. By NFL rule, players are given a franchise tag at the position where they participated in the most plays and Graham was used as a traditional, in-line tight end just one-third of the time during the 2013 season. That could set up a fight about whether Graham should be treated as a receiver or if the job description of a tight end has changed enough that he still qualifies at that spot.



Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal | ProFootballTalk

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Gonna be hard to prove he's a tight end.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

First salvo fired

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

because of the no-blocking thing? ;)

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Nahhh. Not really. Jimmy Graham will prove it for the team. The WR tag changes Jimmy's future more than just compensation wise and he knows it.

Is he a top 2 TE? yes
Is he a top 10 WR? Very arguable.
Could he get into the Hall of Fame as a TE? Yep
Could he get into the Hall of Fame as a WR? Nope
Is he capable of breaking a lot of TE records? Yep
Is he capable of breaking a lot of WR records? Nope.

IF we tag him as a WR he will still play the same roll but he will fall into a different category for records and HoF.

He will no longer be compared to Gonzo and Gronk.. Just realized all you need for an epic tight end is a last name that starts with a G . LOL

He will be compared to Megtron, Rice, Owens, Moss.... And that he is not.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

don't forget pro bowl... this year he is one of 5, easy call
is he undergoes the transformation would he go? probably, but he was 15th in yards, 13th in catches.
Not that anyone cares about the Pro Bowl, but most players have it in their contract, some even as high as $300,000

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Can't they use the exclusive rights tag like they used on Brees.... Don't want anyone talking to him.....

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

It'll be interesting to see what he does.

The TE tag would be 6.9 million a year. The Wide Receiver 11.7 million. That's a difference 4.8 million per year. And it will help determine where the negotiations begin for his next contract.

That's a lot of money to walk away from.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

What could be the advantages of putting a non-exclusive tag on him. I understand the exclusive but not the non-exclusive.

Re: Loomis: Saints will franchise Graham as a tight end if no long-term deal
 

Just read up on the non-exclusive, thats the way to go. If a team really wants him 2 first rounders would be great. Loomis play hardball, sign him for his worth or get 2 first round picks, win, win.