With free agency officially underway this afternoon, you knew it would be a crazy day, but did you expect a three time Pro Bowler to be traded today?
Saints and Seattle have now agreed on trade sending jimmy graham and a 4 to Seattle for max Unger and a 1st
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) March 10, 2015
In 2014, Jimmy Graham signed a new four year deal with the New Orleans Saints and followed that up with an 85 reception season. What does he get as thanks? According to Jay Glazer, he’s getting traded.
It could be worse though, at least he’s going to the Seattle Seahawks. Under Pete Carroll, the Seahawks have become the team to beat in the NFC over the last two seasons and now they are even more dangerous.
With Marshawn Lynch back in the fold and now Graham coming to the Pacific Northwest, the Seahawks have really put themselves in position to make another run through the NFC. Graham has caught over 80 passes in each of the last four years and has had at least 9 touchdowns in each of those seasons.
Not only is he the best tight end the Seahawks have, he immediately becomes the best receiver on the team. Seattle was fourth in the league in 2014 with 380 ypg and third with 27.7 ppg. Despite being already near the top of the heap this keeps the Seahawks moving forward and makes them a force to be reckoned with in 2015. If Jimmy Graham helps the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl, I’m pretty sure Pete Carroll just found his new goal line option.
Graham has history with the Seahawks defense but in pro sports all is forgiven in situations like this. Like new teammate Richard Sherman, Graham is a player you loathe if he’s an opponent but one that you love if he’s on your side.
For the Saints…what can say? They are up against the Salary Cap and sooner or later when you put yourself in situations like this, you have to pay. From 2009 to 2011, the Saints had three straight double-digit win seasons. Over the last three seasons they are 25-23. Will this be the move that signals the downturn of the Saints franchise? Lucky for them the rest of their division is a mess so they likely will still have a chance to compete but with this move you have to wonder if we are beginning to see the end of the Drew Brees era in New Orleans.
