Packers: The argument for keeping Jimmy Graham in 2019

Why the Green Bay Packers should keep Jimmy Graham on the roster in 2019.

After a 2018 season that was an extreme disappointment, pretty much all Packers fans are in agreement that changes need to be made to the roster.

One of the more pressing issues facing the Packers is the slew of seemingly overpaid veteran players that had relatively poor 2018 seasons. This offseason could see the departure of Randall Cobb, Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Bryan Bulaga and Jimmy Graham.

There’s arguments to be made for keeping or getting rid of any of the aforementioned players, but I’m here to present the unpopular opinion that Jimmy Graham should return next season.

Graham finished the 2018 season with 55 receptions for 636 yards and two touchdowns. Obviously that’s not what is expected of the highest paid tight end in the NFL. However, I’m not here to argue that Graham earned his salary, but that he deserves another chance to do so.

The first reason for this is because of the new coaching regime that’s coming to Green Bay next year. Mike McCarthy is gone, and during his tenure as head coach Graham was not the only tight end to struggle.

Ever since the departure of Jermichael Finley, no tight end has really been able to fit into the offense the way they have hoped to. With Matt LaFleur calling plays next season we’ll be able to find out if it has been Mike McCarthy or Aaron Rodgers that has prevented tight ends from excelling in Green Bay.

Secondly, Graham has gone through a similar situation before, and come out of it better. In his first season with the Seahawks in 2015, Graham had just 48 receptions for 605 yards and two touchdowns, pretty reminiscent of his 2018 Packers stats.

Despite the rough start, Graham was able to put up impressive numbers the following two seasons in Seattle. In 2016 he pulled in 66 receptions for 923 yards and six touchdowns. The following season his receptions and yards dipped down to 57 and 520, but he ended up with 10 touchdowns.

Graham proved to be productive after taking some time to adjust to a new system in Seattle. He should get a chance to do the same in Green Bay.

One of the main arguments for getting rid of Graham is the money that’d be saved by doing so. If the Packers cut him this offseason, they’d save $5.3 million in salary cap room. This money obviously could be spent elsewhere, but in my opinion it’s not enough to give up on Graham.

Also, the Packers already have around $40 million in cap room without cutting Graham, according to Over The Cap, so the potential $5.3 million may not make too much of a difference for the Packers’ financials this offseason.

Lastly, there’s no replacement for the starting tight end position as of right now. Due to the fact the past couple of offseasons have had a couple of disappointing tight end signings, I wouldn’t expect the 2019 starting tight end to come from free agency.

Robert Tonyan is an exclusive rights free agent and both Lance Kendricks and Marcedes Lewis are unrestricted free agents. Even if any/all of them come back next season, none of them are really at the level of a starting tight end. If there’s no suitable replacement for Graham, that’s all the more reason why he should be brought back to Green Bay next year.

I still believe that the Rodgers-to-Graham red zone connection can be a deadly weapon. If Graham is cut before the 2019 season, we’ll never know how different things could be in a new offense that’s hopefully more tight end friendly.