Saints: Jimmy Graham

[ManAboutTown]

I respectfully disagree. I hate losing Graham, but one of the Saints biggest problem the last couple of seasons has been an offensive line allowing pressure up the middle on the QB and lack of run blocking in the middle of the line. Hopefully getting a Pro Bowl center will solve both those issues. If it does, it will more than make up for the loss of Jimmy. Especially if Ben Watson and Josh Hill continue performing as they have in their limited action.

Oh absolutely agree. But couldn't we find a center and probably higher pick in the AFC?

[ManAboutTown]

Seahawks DC is now HC in Atlanta, he knows how to stop jimmy, we are obviously looking to be able to run the ball more. This puts every guy in that locker room on notice, including #9... Nobody is untouchable. It's not the perfect deal or anything but it's not the worst IMO. We don't know what impact he had in locker room since being paid either.

Again, I'm all for unloading him and the salary. But the destination is questionable to me.

[Duggie35]

Oh absolutely agree. But couldn't we find a center and probably higher pick in the AFC?

I can only assume that this was the best deal available. Certainly the Saints organization wouldn't have taken less than the best deal on the table.

[mxpxfr690]

Again, I'm all for unloading him and the salary. But the destination is questionable to me.

This sucks! He was my favorite player! I never saw it coming! Looks like to me that is a give up move for the upcoming season and to build for the future. The best offensive weapon is gone! Dark day for saints fans! I do like getting max under though!

[ManAboutTown]

This sucks! He was my favorite player! I never saw it coming! Looks like to me that is a give up move for the upcoming season and to build for the future. The best offensive weapon is gone! Dark day for saints fans! I do like getting max under though!

If given the choice between Pierre and Jimmy.. I would have kept PT 100 times out of 100. Heart & Soul of this team for a long time. I'll bet my house that we miss Pierre waaaay more..

[CrazyCajun]

Again, I'm all for unloading him and the salary. But the destination is questionable to me.

It's not perfect for sure but it takes 2 sides to complete a trade and I'm sure they saw this as the best option. While he won't be playing seattle he will be playing tough hard nose defenses at least 6 times a year. Is he a product of the system? His injuries are mounting, he never was/is a good blocking TE.... How long can a man that big get exposed down field and take those shots.

[CajunT]

This sucks! He was my favorite player! I never saw it coming! Looks like to me that is a give up move for the upcoming season and to build for the future. The best offensive weapon is gone! Dark day for saints fans! I do like getting max under though!

Far too many people are jumping to conclusions, especially since today was the first day of free agency. If the Saints can use some of his money on the defensive side of the football, they may well be a better team. IMO, they over valued their talent and paid some of them too much money. Let's wait and see what the team looks like once the draft is done and they sign a few free agents. Then we can evaluate this trade fairly.

[ManAboutTown]

Far too many people are jumping to conclusions, especially since today was the first day of free agency. If the Saints can use some of his money on the defensive side of the football, they may well be a better team. IMO, they over valued their talent and paid some of them too much money. Let's wait and see what the team looks like once the draft is done and they sign a few free agents. Then we can evaluate this trade fairly.

Saints need a 2007 draft again after 2 years of whiffing on picks.

[cajunhawk]

Far too many people are jumping to conclusions, especially since today was the first day of free agency. If the Saints can use some of his money on the defensive side of the football, they may well be a better team. IMO, they over valued their talent and paid some of them too much money. Let's wait and see what the team looks like once the draft is done and they sign a few free agents. Then we can evaluate this trade fairly.

But they didn't save a dime by trading him. They ate 9 million on the accelerated bonus that Loomis prorated, they saved 8 million on him for the upcoming season, and took on a 4.5 million dollar cap hit from Unger. They actually lose 3.5 million in cap space doing the deal. Down the road it will be beneficial...but short term it actually hurts the team. That and Unger is brittle and was not a pro bowl center this past year. When he came back from his tricep injury in 2013...he hasn't been 100% since and his snapping and pass protection have been awful. Seattle unloaded a pretty dead weight from around their neck. Unfortunately it was for a dead albatross.

[CajunT]

But they didn't save a dime by trading him. They ate 9 million on the accelerated bonus that Loomis prorated, they saved 8 million on him for the upcoming season, and took on a 4.5 million dollar cap hit from Unger. They actually lose 3.5 million in cap space doing the deal. Down the road it will be beneficial...but short term it actually hurts the team. That and Unger is brittle and was not a pro bowl center this past year. When he came back from his tricep injury in 2013...he hasn't been 100% since and his snapping and pass protection have been awful. Seattle unloaded a pretty dead weight from around their neck. Unfortunately it was for a dead albatross.

Not according to Loomis, those numbers are a little off. And while Seattle received one of the better pass catching TE's in the game, you are basically paying $12 Mil a year for a large WR. He can't run block and he disappears in games against good defenses that play him physical. He has also been injured 2 consecutive years. But ask your defensive coordinators how to play Jimmy Graham, they wrote the book on him. He is a great weapon to have when you have the right matchups against a defense, but not if you love to run the football. Ask the Beast next season how much he loves Grahams blocking. Depending upon the health of Unger and what the Saints do with the draft pick and money, long term the Saints might have gotten the better deal. We shall see.

[cajunhawk]

Not according to Loomis, those numbers are a little off. And while Seattle received one of the better pass catching TE's in the game, you are basically paying $12 Mil a year for a large WR. He can't run block and he disappears in games against good defenses that play him physical. He has also been injured 2 consecutive years. But ask your defensive coordinators how to play Jimmy Graham, they wrote the book on him. He is a great weapon to have when you have the right matchups against a defense, but not if you love to run the football. Ask the Beast next season how much he loves Grahams blocking. Depending upon the health of Unger and what the Saints do with the draft pick and money, long term the Saints might have gotten the better deal. We shall see.

Actually Seattle is paying Graham 27 million over the next three seasons. The majority was eaten up by the accelerated signing bonus. Saints paid 13 million this past year. (40 million dollar contract). By my math...and by god I think it's pretty simple...that's 9 million per year for Graham. You can believe what you hear from ole "kick the can down the road" Loomis...but the facts are pretty black and white.

[CajunT]

Actually Seattle is paying Graham 27 million over the next three seasons. The majority was eaten up by the accelerated signing bonus. Saints paid 13 million this past year. (40 million dollar contract). By my math...and by god I think it's pretty simple...that's 9 million per year for Graham. You can believe what you hear from ole "kick the can down the road" Loomis...but the facts are pretty black and white.

The real cap savings with Graham trade comes in 2016 and '17 -- $27M total (including $2M this year). Also, of course, $27M saved in cash.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2015

So how are the Saints not saving any money? They are saving $2 Mil this season and $27 Mil in 2016-2017. Your math is fine, but you are missing a few facts. You are still paying more than what you would have paid Cameron Jordan on the open market for the same amount of production. As I stated, we will see what the Saints can do with the money, but that will extend for two more seasons in 2016-2017.