If this works, we’re gonna need to throw a party for Jimmy Graham.
Peter King’s latest at NBC Sports addresses the Bears’ role in the Russell Wilson sweepstakes. And when it comes to that potential franchise-changing pursuit, King believes three things are in play:
(1) “I think he loves the city.”
I mean, what’s not to love?
(2) “Wilson loves the sporting zeal of the city, the love for the Cubs, the love for the Bears, and might look at it like, Chicago hasn’t had a lot of great quarterbacks, and I could be one. Maybe I could be the missing piece, and how crazy would Chicago go if the Bears ever got great again?”
That’s certainly in line with what we’ve discussed: Wilson could see Chicago as a legacy builder.
But then there’s this … which more or less stopped me in my tracks:
(3) “Chicago tight end Jimmy Graham is a good friend of Wilson’s, and he’s told him good things about the team and the city.”
The idea that Jimmy Graham (of all players) could be a factor in a Russell Wilson pursuit (of all quarterbacks) for the Chicago Bears (of all teams) is flat-out wild to me. Graham’s signing last year was much-maligned. But now, he may be in Wilson’s ear with a wink and a nudge selling him on the team and city. And he may have a point.
When targeting Graham over 32 games from 2016-2017, Wilson threw to the tune of a 63.7% completion percentage (121/190), 1,437 yards, 16 TD (8.4 TD%), just 5 INT (2.6 INT%), and a 103.8 passer rating. Meanwhile, Graham made the Pro Bowl in each of his last two seasons in Seattle with Wilson slinging it. Wouldn’t it be something if that Seattle connection helps push Chicago toward finally landing a dream quarterback?
Yes, so much needs to happen for Wilson-to-Chicago to go down. But if Graham does anything to help bring him to the Bears, we might have to throw a party in his honor. Heck, if extending Graham’s contract means Wilson is taking snaps for Chicago in Week 1 of the 2021 season, then by all means, make it happen.
Football season is littered with unexpected heroes. And Graham lending a helpful hand in the Bears’ quarterback-unearthing process would certainly take the cake.
Michael Cerami contributed to this post.