Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham is not going anywhere if New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees can help it.
Graham, a free agent in the offseason, is one of a handful of key free agents, is expecting the franchise tag. The Saints used the same strategy to retain Brees before eventually signing him to a contract worth $100 million. His deal consumes $18.4 million and $26.4 million in cap space the next two seasons.
“Listen, I get compensated very well. I don’t take that for granted for one second,” Brees said. “But I play this game because I love this game, I love this locker room and I love the opportunity to win a championship.”
The Saints are projected to be at least $12 million over the 2014 salary cap of $126.6 million.
Graham played almost half of his total snaps at wide receiver and could be primed to challenge the franchise free agent value. In the past, hybrid athletes such as Baltimore Ravens defensive end-outside linebacker Terrell Suggs were successful challenging the tag value.
Graham, who played with a serious foot injury late in the 2013 season and postseason, led the Saints with 86 receptions for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns. In 2012, he caught 85 passes for 982 yards and nine touchdowns.
Brees, 35, just completed his third consecutive 5,000-yard passing season.
“Listen, there are so many possibilities as to what can happen here. Let’s just let this offseason start,” he said. “It’s what, today’s the second day of it, unfortunately. We all wish it wasn’t. But whatever helps this team win and puts the best team on the field.”
Safety Malcolm Jenkins an offensive linemen Zach Strief and Brian De La Puente are also free agents.
Head coach Sean Payton said he anticipates some nervousness from fans who’ll ultimately understand that the Saints will be in good shape with a winning team on the field.
“Those are challenges we’ve had every year. Fortunately I think we’ve got one of the best at handling it in (general manager Mickey Loomis). I think he’s outstanding,” Payton said. “We’ve been faced with challenges like this in years prior, and we’re going to be faced with more as we move forward. It means we’re developing and drafting good players. So we’ll handle it just fine.”