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Being the slow season, I thought I'd throw this out for discussion. I am generally NOT at all in favor of signing a UFA designated with the franchise tag, and I tended to discount discussion earlier this offseason regarding Jimmy Graham. But with an arbitrator declaring that Graham is to be considered a TE under the franchise tag designation and the Saints reportedly starting negotiations with Graham's agent over at "ground zero", I thought it was at least worth considering the possibility that the Pats might make a run at signing Graham to an offer sheet.
Reasons for and against this that immediately come to mind:
Con:
- 2014 cap space, and long term financial commitment.
- The amount of cap space devoted to the TE position (especially with Aaron Hernandez's dead money hit for 2014).
- The possibility that signing Graham could hurt the team's ability to extend key players such as Darrelle Revis and Devin McCourty.
- Giving up 2015 and 2016 1st round picks.
- Potentially alienating Rob Gronkowski if Graham's deal ends up with more guaranteed or total money.
Pro:
- The combination of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham on the field at the same time would be virtually unstoppable, and would allow the Pats to run 2-TE sets which have been missing since 2012.
- The red zone offense would be unbelievable.
- Combined with the talent on defense, the team would be in immediate position to dominate in a way that we haven't seen since 2007. Top 3 on both offense and defense not at all out of the question.
- Graham's contract and cap hit are likely to be more manageable than some of the fantasy speculation about a top WR like Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald, and he is considerably younger.
- The draft picks are likely to be very late 1st round.
- With Rob Gronkowski's injury history and a decision coming up in 2015 whether to pay a big option bonus, having Graham signed long term would be a nice insurance option.
I'm on the fence, and I think it's very unlikely, but I thought it was worth discussing, especially given the slow season.
Reasons for and against this that immediately come to mind:
Con:
- 2014 cap space, and long term financial commitment.
- The amount of cap space devoted to the TE position (especially with Aaron Hernandez's dead money hit for 2014).
- The possibility that signing Graham could hurt the team's ability to extend key players such as Darrelle Revis and Devin McCourty.
- Giving up 2015 and 2016 1st round picks.
- Potentially alienating Rob Gronkowski if Graham's deal ends up with more guaranteed or total money.
Pro:
- The combination of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham on the field at the same time would be virtually unstoppable, and would allow the Pats to run 2-TE sets which have been missing since 2012.
- The red zone offense would be unbelievable.
- Combined with the talent on defense, the team would be in immediate position to dominate in a way that we haven't seen since 2007. Top 3 on both offense and defense not at all out of the question.
- Graham's contract and cap hit are likely to be more manageable than some of the fantasy speculation about a top WR like Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald, and he is considerably younger.
- The draft picks are likely to be very late 1st round.
- With Rob Gronkowski's injury history and a decision coming up in 2015 whether to pay a big option bonus, having Graham signed long term would be a nice insurance option.
I'm on the fence, and I think it's very unlikely, but I thought it was worth discussing, especially given the slow season.
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