NEWSLETTER
What was once considered inevitable is now official.
Jimmy Graham’s time with the Green Bay Packers has come to an end:
#Packers release TE Jimmy Graham. https://t.co/GuY0wPS9it
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 12, 2020
This news comes as no surprise.
Earlier in March, reports surfaced that Graham was not expected back in Green Bay for a third season. Because in addition to his play not matching what he had done in previous stops with the Saints and Seahawks, parting ways with Graham would allow the Packers to save a boatload of cap space.
According to OverTheCap.com’s estimations, the Packers will have $27,950,042 in total available salary cap space once the Graham cut is processed.
Meanwhile, Matthew Berry tweets Green Bay is expected to pursue free agent tight end Austin Hooper when free agency opens. Berry is not the first, but the latest to suggest the Packers will have an interest in reeling in Hooper as a free agent. Rumors about the Packers’ possible pursuit of Hooper first emerged in late February. And clearly, they aren’t going away. Of course, the Bears are also expected to take their shot at snagging Hooper, and there’s nothing like a head-to-head arms race between long-time rivals to spice up free agency!
Making a run at a two-time Pro Bowl tight end whose production has risen each year is certainly one way to go about upgrading the tight end position. Both the Bears and Packers want that, so it’s only fitting those two teams are on the list of teams targeting him in free agency. Whichever team doesn’t land Hooper will dabble in the fall-back free agent options such as Hunter Henry, Eric Ebron, or Tyler Eifert. And let’s not forget the pool of draft-eligible tight end prospects that either team could choose from in April.
As for Graham, it’s difficult to see his fit with the Bears. Last season’s 38-catch, 447-yard, 3-TD season was Graham’s worst showing since he was a rookie in 2010. Graham’s 55 catches, 635 yards, and 2 touchdowns in 2018 weren’t much to write home about, either. Hence, the Packers are parting ways with a player they gave a three-year deal worth $30 million to in March 2018. And because Graham will be entering his age 34 season on the decline, it doesn’t look like a trip down I-94 is something that should be in the cards.
But because GM Ryan Pace can be unpredictable, I can’t totally rule it out. At minimum, maybe the Bears will dial up Graham to pick his brain about what’s happening in Packerland. Can’t hurt, could help.
