Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

Also known as stating the obvious!

The Saints don’t want to lose Jimmy Graham in free agency and will almost certainly do whatever it takes to keep him. Which means they won’t be able to keep some of their other key players.

Saints coach Sean Payton said as much in an interview on FOX Sports 1, saying that the Saints will work very hard at getting a deal done with Graham even as they know that with the NFL’s salary cap, every dollar they commit to Graham is a dollar they can’t spend elsewhere.

“With that being said, the first thing that comes to my mind with free agency is your own roster,” Payton said, via the Times-Picayune. “I think often times that gets overlooked. The most challenging part of your job as a coach, and I share that with [G.M. Mickey Loomis] or anyone that has been with an organization as long as we have been, going on year nine, is some of the tough decisions that have to be made with regards to your cap with the ability that you possibly can sign Jimmy Graham.”

The first issue the Saints have to deal with is whether Graham will be considered a tight end or a wide receiver for purposes of the franchise tag. The Saints will want to have the ability to tag him for a $6.8 million tender offer, which is the tight end amount, while Graham will want to be tendered at $11.6 million, the wide receiver amount.

Even if the Saints are able to tag Graham as a tight end, they don’t have much cap space in the first place, and there may not be room under the cap for other soon-to-be free agents including safety Malcolm Jenkins, tackle Zach Strief and center Brian de la Puente. Players who may need to be cut in order for the Saints to get under the cap include linebacker Will Smith, safety Roman Harper, receiver Lance Moore, defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley, cornerback Jabari Greer and running back Pierre Thomas.

Those are all tough decisions. Keeping Graham, on the other hand, won’t be a tough decision. Just an expensive one.

Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions” | ProFootballTalk

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

Starting to sound like Grambeaux won't be resigned...

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

"tough decisions?' LOL, I don't think so.

Smith and Harper were as good as gone the second they signed restructured deals pushing their big cap hits back to 2014. - I don't believe for a second Loomis did not know exactly what he was doing there. He knew those guys' days were numbered. Harper has already been replaced by Vaccaro and Smith, well we all see how we did without him.

Greer and Thomas? Replacements already found. Everybody seems to love Khiry and White showed a ton of ability. If we have to cut either or both of these guys it will be no big deal, and I hate to say it because they are both favorites of mine (especially PT, I even have his jersey) but that's reality.

Moore? Really? We're worried about losing Lance Moore? Come on. the guy barely played last year, when he did he wasn't that good, and his showboating ways are no reflection of his production. And Sproles is alreayd being restructured as we speak.

Restructuring Brees or Grubbs would just be icing on the cake at this point. You cut the players above and there's plenty of room to sign Graham, Strief, and whatever other players you want from the current roster, make a couple decent outside FA signings and still sign your rookies.

Sounds like a cut throat way of doing business and I do like every single one of those players (except for Will Smith who is a slow, fat bum IMO) but that is the way it works for every team in the NFL now.

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

I get what your saying, but I have always felt the Saints keep players way to long( Smith, Vilma, Ellis) Smith and Vilma are 3 years past due in my opinion although I was hoping Smith would he our Harrelson this year at OLB setting the edge but my mistake. With that said thats 3 years waisted with carrying players which in 3 years could have upgraded and their replacements should be set at those positions. I think Harper needs a pay cut but will provide excellent depth at SS although I don't feel Bush is the answer at FS he should stay, again excellent depth, draft a ball hawk FS and those positions are set.Moore I agree 100%. The FO is in a great position with Graham either Tag him and let other teams give up draft picks for him or he plays here under that same tag, signing him to a top TE contract is not a smart move by the Saints, he could be replaced if need be.

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

Starting to make you wonder if he is worth all this. Losing Smith, Moore and BB is not that big of a deal but Losing Harper and Greer could really hurt the D-backfield. If they workout a contract it would cost some where along the lines of 8 to 10 mil a year. We have 2 backups that could step in and play well (not JG well) and still have money to sign a OT and C. He could be Franchised and traded. Possibly getting a rd 1 and 2 this year with another top pick next.
I would love to keep him but if you told me we would be able to receive 3 draft picks and keep some starting players I would go with that.

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

I agree. Smith and Harper's fate were decided long ago as well as Vilma. Jenkins won't be missed much either and I think we can find/draft better, younger, cheaper version anyway. While I disagree that White was ready to take over for Greer before the injury happened I don't think Greer will ever be the player he once was and White is an upgrade in that regard. I think we should keep Pierre because he opens up the playbook a little more with the screen. Its been said numerous times that the coaches are high on Robinson so he is a shoe in. Even though Ingram looked good in the playoffs I am still not sold on him. Would like to see him go. As for Moore it pains me to say it but his days are done too.

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

Money gets in the way of Championship football, no doubt.

Our offense if about to fall apart, IMO.

Alaska

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

As the post say's these are rough decisions, but we have some of the best guys making them. In the end Jimmy Graham has to remain a Saint.

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

On a personal level i can understand how some of the decisions would be tough considering how long some players have been around here.

On a business level, there isn't much difficulty to many of the decisions.

Re: Payton: Keeping Jimmy Graham will require “tough decisions
 

My thoughts exactly.:chug: