The Green Bay Packers showed early interest in free agent tight end and it looks like they got their man. Graham is expected to sign a three-year deal.
Packers intend to sign TE Jimmy Graham to a three-year deal, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
And yes, while we are aware the Packers still need some help at cornerback, they needed some help at tight end too. Graham should certainly be able to provide it.
The tight ends currently on the Packers’ roster — Lance Kendricks and Emanuel Byrd — were unproductive in 2017. Kendricks caught just 18 passes for 203 yards. Byrd caught just two for 31 after coming up off the practice squad. Throw in Richard Rodgers, who caught 12 for 160, and Martellus Bennett, who caught 23 for 233, and the position was more or less a garbage dump.
It’s also notable that all of those guys scored only two touchdowns combined.
Graham caught 57 for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017. He has career numbers of 6,800 yards and 69 touchdowns.
Graham isn’t a great blocker, but he’s been as his best when he’s lined up like a receiver, which he did plenty of in New Orleans. He’s a match-up problem because of his size (6-7, 265) and speed. We would expect the Packers to utilize him more like that.
The Packers said they were going to be aggressive in free agency and now we actually believe them. Now, about that cornerback position…