NY Jets: Team should not pursue Jimmy Graham

Even though the NY Jets could use an upgrade at tight end, Jimmy Graham shouldn’t be pursued this off-season.

There is no denying that tight end Jimmy Graham is an incredible athlete. Things didn’t exactly go as planned when he was traded last off-season by the New Orleans Saints to the Seattle Seahawks. At first it was a dream to think of what he could do with the Seahawks’ offense but unfortunately, it wasn’t anything but a nightmare.

The Seahawks didn’t use Graham to his potential as he was the majority of the time being used in blocking formations to bolster their rushing attack. Last season with the Seahawks, he had one of the worst seasons of his entire career that was only slightly better than his rookie season in the NFL.

Totaling 605 receiving yards on 48 receptions and just two touchdowns, Graham is extremely unhappy and will probably ask if he could be released or traded to a team that would use him as the offensive weapon he knows he can be. He’s due to hit $9m against the Seahawks’ salary cap if he’s on the roster as where if they released him, they could add all that money back.

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Of course many possible suitors would be interested to see what the asking price is considering he suffered a season-ending knee injury last season.

He shouldn’t miss a beat but again, coming back from that kind of injury, there is no guarantee he could replicate the success he had in the past. Could the Jets show some interest and actually bring him into the mix?

While many would love to dream of what he could do on the Jets’ offense considering what they did last season, it just wouldn’t make any sense. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey doesn’t use tight ends as receiving targets and would incorporate him just like the Seahawks did in helping to establish the run as an extra blocker.

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On top of that, the Seahawks traded a first-round pick for him last off-season and would want a nice offer to consider parting ways with him. Either way, with other opportunities across the team that need to be addressed, the Jets should not pursue Graham at all. It would serve no purpose considering the Jets will continue to use the position as extra blockers in establishing the run and bolstering their pass protection.