Jimmy Graham has found a new home, and he’s staying in the NFC North. The tight end is signing a two-year deal with the Bears, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
It’s a $16MM pact for Graham, with $9MM of that guaranteed. ESPN’s Field Yates has more details and notes that the deal includes some incentives and a rare no-trade clause (Twitter link).
The Packers cut Graham last week to avoid paying him the final year of the three-year, $30MM deal he signed with Green Bay in 2018. Graham established himself as one of the best offensive weapons in the game during his time with the Saints, having four straight seasons with at least 889 yards from 2011-14. A third-round pick back in 2010, Graham has made five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.
He was traded to the Seahawks for a first-round pick in 2015, and his effectiveness started to dip after that. He had ten touchdowns in 2017 and was still a great redzone threat, but had only 520 yards. He got the big deal from the Packers but was a disappointment, only racking up 447 yards last season.
He’s been a warrior and has managed to play in all 16 games in four straight seasons, but he’s dealt with a seemingly never-ending string of minor injuries that have reduced his effectiveness physically. Now 33, it’s anyone’s guess as to what he’ll look like in 2020. Still, he should be an upgrade for the Bears, who haven’t had anything consistent at the position in years despite multiple attempts to address it. They gave a big contract to Trey Burton last offseason, and while they hope to still see a return on that investment, the deal for Graham suggests that Chicago doesn’t have a ton of confidence in Burton at this point.
From Aaron Rodgers to Trubustsky
Welcome to Chicago Jimmy
Your career is over
His career was over when he left Brees. His numbers were awful in Green Bay
His career was already over– he just doesn’t know it yet.
It’s been over since he went to Seattle
Lol enjoy Bears fans. A shell of his former self.
Have a heart Ron.
Funny thing is Nick Offerman is surely a Bears fan. But yea, have fun with that Bears, he’s “just a guy” at this point.
The sad part is that he’s a significant improvement over the crap they had last year. Hopefully Burton is healthy for a few games at least.
Hopefully Jimmy remembers to bring the Packers playbook with him because the Bears have only won 3 of the past 20 meetings.
If the playbook was in his hands, and that’s a BIG if even could hold on to it, he would have tripped over his own feet and eventually dropped it anyway.
2015 me loves this move!
all I did was rip on this guy for two years and now he’s a bear. fml
Story of your life, loser
whatever douchebag
Good one genius
That was harsh.
That escalated quickly.
Just follow the 49er fans example they went from hating Sherman to loving him in a matter of moments.
I was trying to come up with aTrubisky Graham and woods joke but I missed it.
Terrible signing.
Throwing good money after bad.
Pace has Corona Brain.
Hahahahahaha!!!!!
$16 million for a Has Been. The Bears being the Bears.