Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

His contract will likely average $7 million/year and he’ll turn 32 during the season. I’d rather cut Fleener and address the position in the draft.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

If he wants to take a pay cut I would be all for it though.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Hill isn't doing squat. Fleener was doing next to nothing before IR. Honamoanamwui (no I'm not looking it up) is a back up. Ginn isn't doing squat. Coleman was good at the beginning of the year then did squat, then he fumbled twice and now hasn't done squat. Tommylee Lewis...meh. Snead has done diddly. Our entire O is based off of Micheal Thomas, Ingram, and Kamara. Graham at 32 is better than the 3 TEs and 4 invisible receivers we have. Make him an offer, nothing high though. Having him back in there as a receiving threat with Thomas and (somebody else) would help next year.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Saints need to clean house at the TE position. A good start would be to bring Jimmy back as a hybrid, and draft a guy who excels at blocking and who is capable of being a reliable pass catcher.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I think Jimmy's an option at the right price.

I'd prefer to draft/sign a couple TE's and let them fight it out in camp.

No sense cutting any of our TE's until we have something better.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

He was great for us but i rather see us getting a younger and cheaper TE in the draft.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I think he would be good at the right price. He fits the system and while he will never be great again he is better than what we have. It’s hard to find TE in the draft that are good receiving threats right off the bat. We need someone who can contribute right away. I bet he is a better blocker now too.

I think the bridge is burned between him and the organization anyway.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Next year I'd sign a veteran and add a draft pick. Think Trey Burton from Philly + Marvin Saunders in round 7.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

We need a TE that can catch and block. I don't know why but that seems to be a pretty rare animal.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Hill is a blocking TE. And he's damn good at it. He is one of several guys that deserve some credit for the season MI and Kamara have had.

I don't get all the hate on the guy.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I don't hate him at all. I like him on the roster, but he hasn't taken the next step...is what he is I suppose.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Agree. I think he’s an above average backup TE. He’s not a Greg Olsen but he’s probably as good or better than most #2 TEs

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I don't think we can cut Fleener without taking too much of a cap hit this year.......so pick a good one in the draft.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Yep.

I don't hate Hill either but he is was a UDFA. If we can find a more talented TE (either in FA or the draft), then perhaps we look else where. Circle back to Atl vs NO on the INT Brees threw to Deion Jones. Maybe a more talented TE makes a play on the ball or even score in that situation.

Winners usually mean the more talented player/difference maker. Nothing against Hill, Houswhatchamaclic etc but the Saints desperately need more talent at the TE position. Period.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Jimmy would be great to have back. He isn’t going to get the big contract, he has proven that without Drew he isn’t worth that money. We would be significantly better if he were in the team right now. Imagine actually having 2 receiving threats.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

The one thing Jimmy got better at was blocking. If we got him back I think he would be just as good as Hill with blocking.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Both.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Dead money is 4.8, which is nothing compared to some of our past moves.
With our much-improved cap situation, smart money is he's gone

I don't think JG is going to see a buyer's market. Might be able to get him in the two year for $12 million range. Throw some incentives in and let him retire with Drew

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

True but we were pretty one dimensional. Our defense was **** and our running game crap. It’s a different team now. I think parting with JG kind of forced Payton into finding a run game. I don’t think if we signed Graham our defense would all of a sudden start sucking and our run game would go to ****.
Our running duo is great but other than Thomas that’s it. An injury to any of those 3 players and our offense will go to crap. We need one more playmaker in the passing game and I think this would probably be one of the most complete and competitive teams in the league.
Point is that adding JG won’t automatically throw us back into mediocrity. Payton has found joy in different toys now and JG wouldn’t be the center of his attention.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Because Brees tries to force it to him sometimes in situations he shouldn’t.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I really don't give a damn about next season right now. We are going for our SB win number two!

15-5 Baby!

:bng:

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I got to apply this to most of our TEs adding that if your QB doesn't target your tight ends, how can you complain about their lack of production?

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

This is true too. It’s like the thought of throwing to your TE is absurd this year. Don’t know if it’s a matter of trust or what but they haven’t been targeted much all year. I hoped Kuhn would be thrown in there once or twice as a receiving threat but I guess that’s not why they brought him back.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

So, everyone is OK with his crappy locker room attitude but everyone else isn't welcome?

Sure, he was basically an orphan and all but boo freaking hoo.

He is as soft as a piece of chewed bubble gum.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

guarantee that the Ravens pick up Graham.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

TE's have not been utilized as much because the RB has taken on that role in this season's offense. It is as simple as that. With two RB's capable of handling screens and checkdowns highly successfully it has allowed the TE position to function more often as a blocker in the run and screen games. Of course, injuries to the position has to have at least a partial affect on the downturn in TE targets, but it is the increased reliance on the RB's that has made by far the greatest impact.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

wait and see if the major rebuild rumors are true in Seattle

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Still in need of a TE for down the middle catches.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

John Phillips is a blocking TE too. So is Hoonamui. They're easy to come by. Having an actual threat (Fleener?) opens up a lot in the passing game. We aren't going to keep going with 1 WR and 2 RBs year after year. If Snead would turn into Snead we'd be fine.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I keep waiting on Snead to catch one of his clutch 3rd down conversions. IDK why he has been a non factor after he returned from injury. I was thinking that we had a strong receiving core but I was wrong. I'm still impressed with the season though.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I really do not see this as a split TE draft. One of the many reasons I wanted OJ last year.

But some good old school TEs from round 4 on are out there.

R4 Troy Fumagalli TE Wisconsin 6054 249 4.84 #81 rSr
R5/6 Marcus Baugh TE Ohio State 6041 250 4.84 #85 rSr
Ethan Wolfe TE Tennessee 6045 245 4.86 #82 Sr

That does not include the small school guys either.

gotta wait and see what the surprise cuts are.

Dolphins releasing tight end Julius Thomas?

Cheaper option to play at least 10 games like Jimmy. He need a QB.

sign a one year prove it with the dolphins kicking in 2 million might be a solid gamble?

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

That’s the thing. I don’t think anyone saw SNEAD deciding to take a step back

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

Snead went from 70 catches a year to 8 this year. Probably will cost him 5 million

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

He could have a big impact on Sunday.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I sure hope so. He's been getting a lot of playing time. If the fire doesn't light up this week then it probably won't.

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I really hope he does.
Carolina is great against the run so we need to be a little more creative than up the middle every first and second down. I think this is Brees' game to win

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I totally agree with your positive attitude!!!!

:bng::bng:

Re: Jimmy Graham likely to leave Seattle in free agency
 

And Sean is wondering why the 3rd down conversion percentage dropped???