Former New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham has agreed to a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears after being released by the Green Bay Packers last week. Graham, who was traded to the Seattle Seahawks back in 2015, is set to earn $16 million with $9 million guaranteed over the course of the contract.
That might be disappointing to some Saints fans, who may have hoped for a reunion between the Saints and the player whose jerseys once stocked so many closets and sports bars. For now, he’ll be playing under the executive who once scouting him in New Orleans — Bears general manager Ryan Pace, the former head of the Saints scouting department. And Graham’s role has since been filled by veteran tight end Jared Cook, while his inability to execute many blocking assignments would have made it tough for him to get on the field.
The 33-year-old tight end posted only 1,083 yards and five touchdown catches over his two-year stint with the Packers, hardly providing the instant-impact receiving threat Green Bay envisioned. However, Graham is still finding ways to get paid. Chicago has more tight ends under contract than any other team ahead of the 2020 season (nine!), but they still felt comfortable giving Graham a lucrative contract despite coming off his worst year as a pro in since his rookie season.
