A familiar face has returned to the New Orleans Saints. The team made an announcement on Tuesday that they have signed Jimmy Graham, a five-time Pro Bowl tight end, to a one-year deal. This reunion may come as a bit of a surprise, as Graham has not played since 2021 when he was a member of the Chicago Bears.
New Orleans drafted the Miami product in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and he went on to put up big numbers in Sean Payton’s offense. In five seasons playing alongside Drew Brees, Graham put up 4,752 yards on 386 catches with 51 touchdowns, including leading the NFL in receiving scores with 16 in 2013. He earned three Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro nod in New Orleans.
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In 2014, there was a disagreement over Graham’s franchise tag status, but he eventually signed a $40 million contract with the Saints for four years. After one season, he was traded to Seattle in exchange for a first-round pick and center Max Unger, as well as a fourth-round pick. Graham played for the Seahawks for three years, participating in 43 games and earning two Pro Bowl selections. He then spent two years each with the Green Bay Packers (2018-2019) and the Bears (2020-2021).
The veteran TE is now 36 years old, and there are concerns about how much he has left in the tank after not playing football last season. During his final season with the Bears, Graham caught 14 passes in 15 games, resulting in 167 yards and a TD.
Graham has now joined the Saints’ tight ends room, which is led by Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Jesse James, and Taysom Hill (technically). If he manages to secure a place on the squad, Graham could prove to be a valuable red-zone threat for Derek Carr in 2023.
New Orleans has made a new addition to their offensive team. Trai Turner, a veteran guard and five-time Pro Bowler from New Orleans has signed a one-year contract with the Saints. This will be Turner’s 10th year in the league, having previously played for four other teams in the past five years. Prior to that, he spent six seasons with Carolina.
In his new role with the Saints, Turner is expected to provide support and depth at the guard position, working alongside projected starters Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz on the offensive line.
