Packers Reportedly Have Interest in Texans TE Garrett Graham

The Houston Texans tight end is scheduled to reach free agency next week, if he doesn't sign a contract extension first.

The Houston Texans have exclusive negotiating rights with tight end Garrett Graham for four more days. On March 8, he's able to negotiate with other teams, and the Green Bay Packers reportedly have interest, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network:

Not until March 11 can free agents start signing with other teams, but it's possible the Packers may look to a player like Graham to fill the void should tight ends Jermichael Finley and Andrew Quarless leave in free agency.

At 6-3 and 249 lbs. and 28 years old, Graham is a flexible tight end, able to line up as an H-back as well as play the traditional in-line tight end role.

In his fourth year in the NFL, Graham emerged as a receiving threat for the first time in his career this past season when starter Owen Daniels was slowed by injuries. In 13 games, starting 11, Graham caught 49 passes for 545 yards and five touchdowns.

Graham doesn't figure to break the bank and will more likely be part of the second wave of free-agent signings––should he reach the open market––after the ridiculous money has been spent on the big names.

Quarless, by comparison, is three years younger than Graham but has been slowed by a serious knee injury suffered in 2011 and hasn't been the same player since.

Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism at last week's NFL Combine that Finley would be cleared from his own serious neck injury and subsequent spinal-fusion surgery, but there are no guarantees that Finley will return to Green Bay.

 

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Comments (25)

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Evan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 09:15 am

I think I'd prefer Scott Chandler.

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RC Packer Fan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:01 am

I think I agree.

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Evan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:06 am

I'm curious what his story is.

To cite one example, NFL.com has Graham as the #91 FA available, but Chandler isn't anywhere to be found on the list.

He has better size (6'7" vs. 6'3"), is only a year older (28 vs 27) and has put up better numbers the last few years (in a much worse offense). Their combine speed numbers are pretty much identical, too (4.78 vs. 4.71; 4.32 vs. 4.35 20-yard shuttle)

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RC Packer Fan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:17 am

The main reason why I like him better is his size. We currently don't have anyone close to that size on offense. He could really help in the redzone.

He has had horrible offenses to play in and pairing him up with Nelson, Cobb, Lacy and Rodgers, I think he could be a good addition.
I am not sure of his story, but I know he played college football at Iowa.
Thompson likes Hawkeyes and he could be another one on the roster.

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L's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:37 am

But how good is Scott Chandler in regards to being flexible? Is he a viable option to line up as an H-back as well as play the traditional in-line role or spread out? Does he lack the same skill set of Garrett Graham within those roles?

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Evan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:40 am

That I don't know.

From what I can tell, Chandler is a better tight end, which is more where my priority is.

Flexibility and versatility are great, but first and foremost the Packers need a tight end, a big red zone target.

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MarkinMadison's picture

March 04, 2014 at 09:30 am

Isn't this the same guy who said the Packers wanted to get smaller on the line, and then the Packers came out and said, "nope"?

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WKUPackFan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 08:26 pm

What is the acceptable error rate for a NFL insider?

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denniseckersley's picture

March 04, 2014 at 09:51 am

If we let our big names walk, we shouldn't be bringing other guys in. I know that sounds bizarre, but it's true. We'll be tossing compensatory draft picks out the window. I'd rather have a 2015 4th round draft pick (for letting Raji go) than garrett effing graham.

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ATS's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:53 am

I agree.
Quarless would cost less than Graham.

Do any of us think there will be a game next season where we say to ourselves "Damn - they would have won that game if our TE was Garret Graham, not Andrew Quarless."?

Any "upgrade" would not be great enough to offset the loss of a comp pick.

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Brooklyn81's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:01 am

Does anybody know if we have any compensatory picks this year, and which rounds?

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Evan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:02 am

They'll get 2 - for Jennings and Walden. They haven't been announced yet. Probably a 3rd/4th for Jennings and a 6th/7th for Walden.

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Crede's picture

March 04, 2014 at 10:46 am

Sign both Graham and Chandler!!

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Drealyn Williams's picture

March 04, 2014 at 12:39 pm

Chandler,the ex Buffalo Bill?

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Evan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 12:49 pm

Yeah.

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fish and crane's picture

March 05, 2014 at 06:58 am

Don Chandler

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mark's picture

March 04, 2014 at 12:45 pm

Am I the only one who thought Andrew Quarless took a step last year? Would love to see him back at the right price.

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Evan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 12:51 pm

No doubt he did - the simple fact of finally being healthy was in and of itself a huge step.

I'd love him back at the right price as well. I don't think he's a #1, but they can win with him.

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RC Packer Fan's picture

March 04, 2014 at 01:20 pm

I agree. I think he could be a number 1 with a full offseason. I don't want to put all my chips on him, but I think he is worth resigning. I wouldn't expect him to command a high dollar salary.

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calabasa's picture

March 04, 2014 at 02:12 pm

"#Packers will have interest if he’s free"

That's right in our price range :)

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davyjones's picture

March 04, 2014 at 05:01 pm

Now that is clever.

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BradHTX's picture

March 04, 2014 at 05:59 pm

Well played, Calabasa, well played.

I don't think Quarless and Graham/Chandler/OtherUFA is an either/or proposition. Quarless did take a big step forward and it would be good to have him back, but I think we all consider it unlikely Finley returns, and clearly Ryan Taylor and Jake Stonepenalty aren't the answer at #2. A Quarless-Graham pairing at TE doesn't offer quite the dynamic quality Finley brings, but I don't think it's a bad lineup.

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Icebowler's picture

March 04, 2014 at 04:47 pm

I thought Quarless really played well in December after getting the rust off, at least receiving wise. His blocking was still rusty, but I think that he will also regain that aspect of his game this year. Sign him! Another FA I think worth a look is Jeff Cumberland from the Jets. He has shown flashes running deep down the seam and could do well in our system and with a great QB throwing him the ball.

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beardownpackup's picture

March 04, 2014 at 05:31 pm

John Carlson? John Carlson.

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Nopainnogain's picture

March 04, 2014 at 06:43 pm

Matthew Mulligan 2.0?

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