Not Letting Greatness Pass Us By (Jimmy Graham) (1 Viewer)

[saintsinNO]

Everyone realizes how good Jimmy Graham is, but I don't know if we realize just how good he is.

Graham currently has 23 catches for 358 and 4 TD's. Those are already incredible numbers, but that's with him catching only 60% of his targets, you can believe that number is going to climb. It will be very hard for him to keep this pace (on pace for 123 catches, 1,909 yards and 21 TD's), but even if he has a sizable drop in production he can still set the yards and touchdown records set by Gronk a few years back of 1,327 and 17.

To put this in perspective with probably the greatest TE of all time, Tony Gonzalez's highest yard total in a season in his career is 1,258...Graham is on pace to break that mark for the second time in only his first 4 years. Gonzalez's high for TD's is 11,...again Graham is on pace to equal or surpass that mark for the second time in 4 years.

Currently, Graham is leads the league in first downs (19), fourth in YPG (119.3) and tied for third in the league in 20+ yard plays (6). That is INSANE for a TE. And not a knock on Graham, but he is going to continue get better catching things with the threat of contact (as he already has) and these numbers are going to go up. It's said a lot, but the fact is that he is still learning how to play football, that is a scary scary thought.

Graham and Gronk are special, but given the off the field stuff and injuries, I think Graham has the sustainability to be the greatest TE of all time, and for it to not even be close. We have been blessed to watch a great at QB for the past 8 years and Brees definitely deserves all the praise he gets, but position comparatively Graham is just as much if not more special as he is on pace to be without question the greatest TE of all time. A truly special player.

 

[GeaxSaints44]

The guy is a beast at tight end like none I've ever seen. It's almost an unfair matchup for anyone the defense puts on him. I just hope we pay him soon.....

 

[ASaintFerLife]

I am so glad we have him, now we are about to pay him his worth, Saints might wanted to lock him up earlier, but now in beast mode with TD's and Yards, the saints will have to dole out more.

Should have resigned him this offseason or contract extension last year

 

[SaintLuke]

Arizona had no answer for Graham yesterday, they had no one who could cover him and the one on one coverage was very lopsided. Jimmy played a great game. Some of the drops I think is he is anticipating the hits and getting a little short arms on a few of the plays. Those cheap shot hits he received last week has him hearing footsteps, and that natural. Anyone would, that just being human. Nevertheless, he is awesome TE. Yesterday he was a weapon who could not be stopped. When Arizona tried so hard to stop Jimmy and our other weapons, it left Brees wide open areas to run, it was an awesome offensive performance, the more the game went on the more Arizona was lost and we rolled.

 

[cki3915]

I am so glad we have him, now we are about to pay him his worth, Saints might wanted to lock him up earlier, but now in beast mode with TD's and Yards, the saints will have to dole out more.

Should have resigned him this offseason or contract extension last year

Loomis doesn't work that way. He has the franchise tag at his disposal, so there is no reason from the Saints perspective to rush the contract. It's not like Graham will get any better than he already is. He is already the best. Better to wait the season and see if he emerges healthy, slap him with the tag, and then negotiate.

If they didn't do Drew early, they won't do Graham early.

 

[saintsinNO]

Loomis doesn't work that way. He has the franchise tag at his disposal, so there is no reason from the Saints perspective to rush the contract. It's not like Graham will get any better than he already is. He is already the best. Better to wait the season and see if he emerges healthy, slap him with the tag, and then negotiate.

If they didn't do Drew early, they won't do Graham early.

True, although, give his production and how much he splits out wide, I bet there will be a play to classify him as a WR if it gets to that point. One way or another, he isn't going anywhere, but I hope a long-term is in the cards soon as it would be what's best for both sides.

 

[fahad]

Please Mr. Loomis re-sign him to muti year contract before the end of the season.
He is an important part of our team.

 

[sammymvpknight]

Loomis and Graham should sit down...and get the contract done. Structure the contract in a way that he makes the same this year, pay him what he would make under the franchise tag next year, and then escalate it from there. It is clear as day that Graham isn't just the top TE...he is probably a top 3 receiver. He will one day demand that type of money and someone will pay him.

 

[mvtrucking]

M Loomis, please lock Jimmy up ASAP!

 

[saintsinNO]

He's a Beast: Jimmy Graham - NFL Videos

 

[cgrand]

the saints don't have anyone that could cover graham either
tall, fast, athletic tight ends are a match up nightmare for everyone
he is the prototype of a football WMD

he is practically uncoverable
hopefully, the counter punch by opposing defenses is something other than headhunting

 

[Rdanderson91]

Todd Boles said it best: how do you keep jimmy graham from scoring? You don't let him in the building.

 

[St.Fury]

The guy is a beast at tight end like none I've ever seen. It's almost an unfair matchup for anyone the defense puts on him. I just hope we pay him soon.....

As a Saints fan, I don't really see the "unfair" part.

 

[Saint Kamara]

Great post by the OP.

I will also add that Jimmy is still a bit raw. Still making mistakes out on the field running routes, adjusting to the zone defenses, etc. A few too many drops he probably would like to correct.

To think this kid is going to be that much better in the remainder of Drew's career, he will go down as the best tight end of all time at that pace.

I would venture to say we are seeing 75 % of what Jimmy will ultimately be in years 5-8 of his career. Yikes.

 

[Hopeless]

to everybody talking about getting a deal done.

you realize that jimmy's side of the talks are more than likely the part that slowed the contract down.

it wouldnt surprise me if loomis really wanted a contract done this offseason.

BUT, jimmy and his agent would be much better delaying talks until after the season. he had a "down" year last year, and this year, is on pace to shatter some TE ceilings. this will score him the definitive "big cheese" contract, instead of getting a top 3/ top 5 TE contract based on last year's performance.

so, dont blame mickey for not getting a deal done.. just realize that this is part of the business, and jimmy and his agent are the ones holding the leverage in the deal, and building that leverage by playing this season pre-contract and holding off on a deal until after the season. he's gonna get paid, and hes gonna get paid big.