It has been predicted that if a team was going to make a run at Jimmy Graham, it would be the Green Bay Packers. The tight end will not be cheap. After getting the franchise tag from the New Orleans Saints, Graham will come at the cost of a long-term contract and two first round draft picks. That is a lot to give up for one player, even if Graham will give Green Bay the best offense in the league, which is why the team is not interested.
According to Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman, Packers team sources say trading for the tight end and salvaging their future would be "dumb beyond dumb...won't happen." Freeman goes on to report that most NFL general managers believe Graham is one of the most valuable players in the NFL outside of a few quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. However, teams are likely unwilling to give up so much for him because they could be tossing the future away. Graham is a game-changer, but not a two first-round picks.
Graham would thrive with the Packers. With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, Eddie Lacy running and players Randall Cobb running the sidelines, Graham could be the final piece of the puzzle for Green Bay's offense. However, trading so much for one player does not fit the mold the Packers normally follow. The team is not known for blockbuster deals like this and does not intend to start now.
Instead, Green Bay will look towards free agency for tight end help. Jermichael Finley is not expected to return in 2014, leaving a whole in the receiving corps. The Packers struggled most of last season to throw the ball well. A lot of their low stats could be due to the fact that Rodgers missed time for injury or they just need more productive players.
So who could be available? Garrett Graham from the Houston Texans is a free agent and while the team intends on working out a contract extension, the Packers could pull him away with the excuse of playing for Rodgers and not a rookie quarterback.
Brandon Pettigrew is officially on the market after the Detroit Free Press announced the Lions were not retaining the tight end. Pettigrew was very productive for Detroit last year and would work well under Jim Caldwell's system, but the two sides are not likely to agree on a new contract.
The Packers are looking at all options when it comes to the tight end spot. They could aim to draft someone or sign a marquee free agent, but it appears no plan includes a trade for Graham.
