The New Orleans Saints are in a holding pattern with tight end Jimmy Graham. Both sides are currently awaiting a grievance hearing to be held in June to determine whether or not Graham is a tight end or a wide receiver which will then determine just how much he will make in the upcoming season. Graham has yet to sign his franchise tag and is holding out of team OTAs after a contract extension was failed to be agreed upon. So, could a team being gearing up for a trade of the tight end?
Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports that if a team is going to make a trade for Graham, the Cleveland Browns are in the best shape to do so. The Browns can place an offer sheet on the tight end which the Saints would then have five days to match. If they decline to the match the offer, the Browns then give up two first round picks, one in 205 and one in 2016 in exchange for Graham. As of right now, the Browns have the second most salary cap space in the league with $25.1 million to work with, more than enough for Graham. They also have two first-round picks in next year's draft after the deal with the Buffalo Bills.
It is crazy to think of Graham not playing for the Saints next year, but when the numbers around broken down, it does make sense. The Browns need another wide receiver. They are at risk of losing Josh Gordon for the season. Greg Little has been released. Nate Burleson is aging. Miles Austin is not yet healthy. Earl Bennett is a No. 2 or 3 option at best. Graham would be that go-to threat the Browns are in desperate need of if either Johnny Manziel or Brian Hoyer are going to be successful.
Right now, the Browns have Jordan Cameron at the tight end position. He is in the final year of his contract and Ulrich does not believe the Browns will offer him enough money to stay. He is not worth a top-dollar deal. Getting Graham would help for next season and set them up well for the future. The only issue is just how much that offer sheet will have to be in order to win the tight end over.
It is likely that Graham will win his grievance hearing. ESPN.com reports Graham lined up as a wide receiver 45 percent of the time and a tight end 33 percent of the time. He could earn $12 million this season on a franchise tag rather than $7 million. Trading for Graham would be the marquee move that general manager Ray Farmer had been hinting at. He noted the team would explore every option to add another offensive weapon and outside of a deal for Andre Johnson, Graham is the best there is.
