Packers moving on from Jimmy Graham
By PackerAaron
To the surprise of almost no one, the Packers will be moving on from tight end Jimmy Graham.
One potential play-maker hitting the market: #Packers TE Jimmy Graham is not expected back in Green Bay, sources say. The move with the 33-year old former free agent signing is noteable, though not a surprise for anyone involved.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2020
In two seasons in Green Bay, Graham tallied just 93 receptions for 1083 yards and five touchdowns. He never turned into an offensive weapon for the Packers.
Green Bay will save roughly $8 million in cap space with the move.
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Comments (33)
BoCallahan
March 04, 2020 at 04:40 pm
Finally, it’s official.
dblbogey
March 04, 2020 at 04:47 pm
Yay.
Fredrik87
March 04, 2020 at 04:57 pm
Some of the best news I've heard all day.
I can't wait to see how this affect the cap and what we do in free agency.
Ferrari-Driver
March 04, 2020 at 05:31 pm
Graham was a superb NFL player and an asset on the field, in the locker room, and the community during his career. He has simply lost the battle with father time and it will eventually happen to every single professional athlete.
I believe he performed to the best of his ability while he was with us, it's just that he was past his prime and his skill level diminished significantly prior to his arrival with the Packers. The heart was there but the body was unable to match his desire.
I wish him well.
MWendlandt
March 04, 2020 at 05:36 pm
I was about to comment the same thing. For all the complaining of the fanbase about Graham, and I get it, there was a surprisingly large value he brought to the team as a mentor to Sternberger and Tonyan as well as being a veteran voice in a young locker room. I also wish Jimmy the very best going forward and hope he stays in contact with the Green Bay fanbase and area. Maybe an EAA Airventure appearance is in his future.
TarynsEyes
March 04, 2020 at 06:24 pm
"...it's just that he was past his prime and his skill level diminished significantly prior to his arrival with the Packers."
Exactly what the FO should have seen and stopped them from even signing him. We got back nothing from him to justify the money paid him. The veteran mentoring is also bs as our TE play as a whole has been just above poor.
NickPerry
March 05, 2020 at 06:47 am
Well said Ferrari-Driver... Like the Packers organization your comment is classy and shouldn't have or deserve a single "Thumbs Down".
I completely agree with you. I think Jimmy wanted to succeed and put up numbers like he used to. But the body marches to it's own beat. I can attest to this every morning I get up!
Thanks Jimmy. Good luck to you.
Wilment
March 04, 2020 at 05:39 pm
Sort of sad, since his arrival sent Cook packing, and he never lived up to the hype. Will probably sign with either the Saints or Patriots for a final season at a discount price to get another shot at a ring. I think we have a pair of young guys to fill the position, one of whom could be great -Jace Sternberger. Thanks for your time in Packerland Jimmy. GOPACKGO!
Spiker
March 04, 2020 at 05:48 pm
Cook was long gone before Grahm got here. Remember Bennett?
Wilment
March 04, 2020 at 06:08 pm
Forgot about Bennett.....he was here for so short a time.
jeremyjjbrown
March 05, 2020 at 10:17 am
"Forgot about Bennett."
Wish I could...
Gman1976
March 05, 2020 at 12:32 am
I could never figure out why the Pack didn’t resign Cook. The last games with A.R. were great and he seemed healthy.
NickPerry
March 05, 2020 at 06:43 am
The reason can be summed up in 2 words Gman1976...Ted Thompson...
Thompson could have had him and they let him go. ALMOST as bad as letting him go in the first place was signing Bennett to replace Cook...Talk about a disaster. Bennett's been out of the NFL for a while now and Cook is going strong.
Stroh
March 05, 2020 at 03:16 pm
I call BS. Thompson and the Packers negotiated in good faith and had were close to an agreement for Cook, then Cooks agent tried to put a last second squeeze on them for another 500K or million. That's when they balked. Blame Cook and his agent not Thompson. Full of revisionist history!
MWendlandt
March 05, 2020 at 12:18 pm
They did offer a deal to Cook, but his agent rejected it. After that, Thompson knew he needed to move fast on a TE and signed Bennett. Cook then took a lower offer from Oakland. It's on both sides, TT for not being patient, and Cook and his agent for trying to play hardball.
buddrow53
March 04, 2020 at 05:40 pm
While I am glad like everyone else , I just wonder if he has any comments about his stay here in GB.
Lphill
March 04, 2020 at 06:12 pm
Good guy the Packers got him too late in his career. Thanks Jimmy!
Bearmeat
March 04, 2020 at 09:07 pm
Thank God. It was a trash-fire of a signing from day 1. Hated it when it was made. Hated the player (at this stage in his career). Hated that we essentially paid more for Graham than we would for Cook. Hated the money even more. Hated how our QB favored his old and slow ass. Barf all around. Worst Packer FA signing since Joe Johnson??? Quite possibly,
Gute's worst move so far. Hopefully it'll be his worst move ever.
flackcatcher
March 05, 2020 at 01:05 am
Rookie mistake by Gute. Switching Nelson for Graham failed and weaken another position when the Packers couldn't afford the loss. Gute swung for the fences, and struck out. It Happens.
Bearmeat
March 05, 2020 at 09:53 am
I think Nelson was done too. I'd have preferred to move on from all of the above. The Julius Peppers of the world are raaare.
flackcatcher
March 05, 2020 at 10:15 am
I thought it was more a pick em call. Nelson route running was so good that with Rodgers it was a sure 10+ yard pickup. Losing both with no gain simply was not going to happen. Gute gambled that Cobb would be there for the whole season. He lost, and without a safety blanket that both Nelson and Cobb were, well we all know how that played out. In either case both were sure to be gone that year or next. Age and injuries wait for no football player...
Archie
March 05, 2020 at 07:21 am
Agreed. Now let's go get Hooper to pair with Sternberger.
MarkinMadison
March 04, 2020 at 07:59 pm
Um, I don't think that is official. Have we got anything to back that up?
splitpea1
March 04, 2020 at 08:14 pm
The highlight of his short Packers career was his last play--the game -clinching catch against Seattle in the playoffs. So while the signing was an overall disappointment, at least we can point to something where he really made a difference.
That being said, we need a whole lot more production out of this position, whether it be from one of young guys or a reasonably-priced free agent that's not old.
mrj007
March 04, 2020 at 08:21 pm
Moving on! Let's use the cap space to pay somebody who can tackle Raheem Mostert....
frankyboy
March 04, 2020 at 09:23 pm
He Peaked with the SAINTS !!!!!!
GO PATS
wildbill
March 05, 2020 at 12:49 am
Both the Bennett and Graham signings smack of desperation. Our offense lacks the ability to attack the hardest place to defend which is the middle of the field. But Rodgers loves throwing outside the numbers as it cuts down on interception opportunities, it’s either caught or out of play. This makes me wonder if Rodgers would even really attack the middle often enough to justify the large investment we would make in the TE position again.
marpag1
March 05, 2020 at 09:29 am
I'm not sure if you're being terribly accurate or fair to Rodgers. I ran a comparison of Rodgers passes against the entire league. Here's what I found.
Rodgers threw right 40.3% of the time compared to the league's 38.0%
Rodgers threw left 40.3% of the time compared to the league's 37.5%
Rodgers threw over the middle 19.5% of the time compared to the league's 24.5%
So does Rodgers throw over the middle less? Yes... 5% less. If you throw 30 times a game, 5% is 1.5 throws per game.
But shouldn't we expect Rodgers to throw over the middle less than other QBs? He has Davante who is definitely best as an outside receiver and he has jack shit other than that. Was Jimmy Graham winning a lot of routes over the middle? When is the last time the Packers had a good TE or a dynamic slot man?
Every QB in history has had it beaten into his head, "Don't throw late down the middle" - and this is for good reason. Short throws over the middle are generally primary reads. The QB looks ... if it's open he takes it, and if not it's on to read #2. And later reads are going to be to the outside because you don't throw late down the middle.
So if you want to throw over the middle, you simply need to have twitchy, explosive athletes who can win immediately off the line at the snap of the ball. Jimmy G ain't exactly a twitchy explosive athlete who can win at the snap of the ball.
When is the last time the Packers had a pass catcher who fit that description?
sbransbottom
March 05, 2020 at 07:28 am
My thoughts exactly. Love the research and numbers for proof. Well said marpag1!
jannesbjornson
March 05, 2020 at 09:08 am
Touche'
sheppercheeser
March 05, 2020 at 05:44 am
Wow, the Packers must have at least 10-first round picks. Every time I read a new post on social media it's "the Packers are projected to draft this guy" and "the Packers are projected to draft that guy" and "here's a QB the Packers are getting" and "this RB is a sure thing for GB". It's just getting to be TOO much! OMG
DeathByCheese
March 05, 2020 at 11:12 am
Money to sign Hooper ???
billy96
March 08, 2020 at 04:26 am
Finally, it's official
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