Seattle Seahawks Rumors: Jimmy Graham Is Not Coming
By Todd Pheifer
Dec 2, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel (99) after making a reception during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
With all due respect to Adam Schefter of ESPN, I don’t buy this tweet for a second:
If I'm the Seattle Seahawks or Green Bay Packers, I'm willing to sign TE Jimmy Graham to an offer sheet and to give up two 1's to get him.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2014
Jimmy Graham in a Seattle Seahawks uniform? Sure, it sounds good. Who wouldn’t want a guy that pulled in 86 catches for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2013?
Let’s just slow down a bit before we get too excited.
According to Schefter, the Seahawks should give up not one, but two first-round picks. That would be on top of whatever dollar amount would be required to get him away from the New Orleans Saints, particularly since his current team can match any offer.
Desirable? Sure. Realistic from a financial standpoint? Not exactly. The Seahawks have higher priorities than a tight end. Michael Bennett is one. Golden Tate is another. Red Bryant will also need to be replaced.
Besides, do the Seahawks really need a dynamic tight end? Zach Miller caught 33 balls in 2013 and functioned as a blocking tight end in many situations. Luke Willson had 20 catches and found the end zone just once.
If Tate comes back and Percy Harvin is actually healthy, Russell Wilson may not need a big-name tight end to move the ball. Marshawn Lynch is still going to carry the load and Wilson will spread the ball around. This is not an offense that is designed to focus on one go-to receiver.
Granted, the Percy Harvin deal last year was a bold move by the Seahawks, so perhaps Pete Carroll and John Schneider are again feeling like they can do some wheeling and dealing.
Two first-round picks plus steep compensation is a lot in the NFL. Jimmy Graham is certainly talented, but this still seems like an unlikely move for the Seahawks. Something tells me that the Saints are not going to let this guy go.
Then again, if Graham can’t beat the Seahawks, maybe he would like to join them.