TE Jimmy Graham Staying with the Packers for 2019

Jimmy Graham with the Seahawks in 2016. Photo by Jeff Halstead/CSM/REX/Shutterstock

After he had an underwhelming 2018 season, it looked like tight end Jimmy Graham is poised to leave the Green Bay Packers after just one season. However, things have changed in the recent weeks, and now it appears that Graham will have a chance to redeem himself in 2019.

According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapaport, Packers will enter the offseason having Graham in their plans, and they intend to pay his $5 million roster bonus in March.

Jimmy Graham joined Green Bay last offseason and was one of the team’s marquee free agent signings. He supposed to fill the team’s need on the tight end position, but the 32-year-old failed to make an immediate impact. Graham played all 16 games, but only caught 55 passes for 636 yards and two touchdowns.

These bad performances caused analysts to believe that Packers will release Graham in the offseason, saving themselves close to $6 million in cap space. However, it appears that the Packers’ new coach Matt LaFleur thinks otherwise and is willing to give the player another chance.

After being selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Jimmy Graham quickly established himself as a Pro-Bowl tight end. Besides leading NFL in touchdown receptions in 2013, he also had three Pro-Bowl appearances and one First-team All-Pro selection during his five years with the organization.

In 2015, Graham was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he continued with his exceptional performances, adding two more Pro Bowl appearances. His career stats include 611 caught passes, 7,436 receiving yards and 71 receiving touchdowns.

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