The Saints need their old friend in Jimmy Graham

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints drafted Jimmy Graham in the third round of the 2010 draft. Graham was more than a pleasant surprise in his time as a Saint. The former Saints TE unveiled 99 receptions (career-high), 1,310 yards (career-high), and 11 receiving touchdowns in his second season in the NFL. Graham progressed and unleashed an All-Pro season in 2013, where he registered 16 touchdowns with 1,215 yards.

Graham was shipped out of the Big Easy in the 2015 offseason and started a new journey as a Seattle Seahawk. Graham didn’t have his older brother Drew Brees in Seattle, but it didn’t stop him from making his mark in Seattle. Graham ousted 65 receptions and 923 yards in year one as a Seahawk. Those stats were both franchise records at the TE position in the rainy city. The former college football and college basketball stud would spend two years in Green Bay (2018, 2019) and then play the last two seasons in the NFC North for the Chicago Bears.

Graham is 35 years old, but I certainly believe he can be a red-zone threat and modest receiving threat down the seam in the right scheme. Furthermore, I believe he can find the right scheme in a familiar place: New Orleans. It wouldn’t only be poetic if Jimmy returned to his roots, but I believe they need his skillset.

Jimmy Graham might have had his worst season in his career in 2021, but it was largely due to the Bears having a disaster offense as a whole. In 2020, Graham unleashed 8 touchdowns. Since 2014, Graham has only had two seasons of 8+ touchdowns (2017, 2020). He may not be burning defenses for 20+ yard catches at this stage in his career, but he still can be a challenge to guard in the red zone.

The Saints starting TE Adam Trautman has been a bust for Who Dat Nation thus far. He’s recorded a mere 434 yards and three touchdowns in the past two seasons. He also takes the phrase “Butterfingers” to a whole new level, as he caught 27 of 43 targets last season. Taysom Hill has also caught a whopping one touchdown in the last two seasons combined. The Saints have been aching for a reliable TE, particularly a TE that can consistently catch passes and moss defenders for six points.

The Saints don’t have Sean Payton calling the shots, but they do still have General Manager Mickey Loomis and Offensive Coordinator, Pete Carmichael, in town. Loomis was the GM that drafted Graham and Carmichael was the Saints OC when Graham first played in a Black and Gold uniform. It’s also been recently noted that Graham wished he never left the Saints and the establishment that first gave him an opportunity.

Dennis Allen, who is the new ring leader in town, needs to get creative this offseason and lobby for players that aren’t pricey. The Saints are buried in cap hell, as they are ranked dead last in the league. The Saints realistically can’t obtain weapons like Michael Gallup, JuJu Smith Schuster, and Robert Gronkowski. They will need to find under-the-radar players for potentially QB Jameis Winston and find ways for the cheaper acquisitions to outperform their expectations. Graham should be looking at a lower-end picture of $4-5 million per season at this stage in his career.

If the Saints can’t find a TE or big body WR that is a good long-term fit or player worth a heftier price tag, they should consider calling Graham to return home. Graham could be a smart addition that can be a nice veteran presence and slot weapon across from the hungry Michael Thomas.