Would you give up two 1st round picks for Jimmy Graham?

[rmw10]

When the Saints applied the franchise tag to Jimmy Graham, it was the non-exclusive tag where any team can sign him to an offer sheet.  If he accepts, the team then has to give up two 1st round picks.  Would you do it?  This doesn't apply to just the Ravens, hence why this is in the other NFL teams section.

 

If I'm the Seahawks, I strongly consider it.  They're currently flush with talent and will likely be picking at the end of the draft again next season.  They did just give up their 1st for Harvin last year, but if they could find a way to make it work under the cap, it could be a good move for them.

 

Any other teams that may be able to consider such a move?

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

When the Saints applied the franchise tag to Jimmy Graham, it was the non-exclusive tag where any team can sign him to an offer sheet.  If he accepts, the team then has to give up two 1st round picks.  Would you do it?  This doesn't apply to just the Ravens, hence why this is in the other NFL teams section.

If I'm the Seahawks, I strongly consider it.  They're currently flush with talent and will likely be picking at the end of the draft again next season.  They did just give up their 1st for Harvin last year, but if they could find a way to make it work under the cap, it could be a good move for them.

Any other teams that may be able to consider such a move?

it's not just the 2 picks, but also the high offer sheet that will eat a lot of cap space; something in the lines of...

 

extract from Peter King's MMQB:

"I think there’s no way I’m giving up two first-round picks and $12 million a year for a tight end, particularly one I’m not sure is going to be great consistently against physical defenses. That’s not a knock on Jimmy Graham. But two ones and 9% of your cap? Nope. Really good player. Not worth that."

[rmw10]

it's not just the 2 picks, but also the high offer sheet that will eat a lot of cap space; something in the lines of...

 

extract from Peter King's MMQB:

"I think there’s no way I’m giving up two first-round picks and $12 million a year for a tight end, particularly one I’m not sure is going to be great consistently against physical defenses. That’s not a knock on Jimmy Graham. But two ones and 9% of your cap? Nope. Really good player. Not worth that."

 

Yeah I know.  That's more why I posed the question.  I don't think there's any doubt that he could be worth the 2 first rounds picks to a perennial contender, but is he worth the contract as well?

[Gordo52]

Hell no. Never is a TE worth that.

[berad]

I would not. Great athlete but he's immature and, frankly, soft. I'll just say he fits the Saints

[Mt. Crushmore]

I wouldn't

[RavensAllTheWay]

No way in the world..

[Inqui]

Imagine if the Broncos got him.

[52520Andrew]

No way. Too much to give up for one player that is not the qb. If we needed a qb badly and did not have good draft position and it was a franchise player available, then maybe but even then it would be tough. Graham is good but not good enough to carry an entire team.

[Ravenslifer]

No, puts too many holes in your team for a position that's not hard to fill provided you draft well.  Graham is a game-breaking talent, but when was the last time a game-breaking TE won a team a Superbowl?  Vernon Davis hasn't yet, Rob Gronkowski hasn't yet.  When we won, we had multiple great but not elite weapons in Boldin, Torrey, Pitta, and got contributions from Jones and Dickson, plus had a great running game.  That's 5 solid targets to spread the ball around to.  Look at the Superbowl - Baldwin and Kearse had 5 catches, each, Harvin 4 touches and a Kickoff return, Lynch 15 carries.  Very evenly spread out.  Compare that to the losing Broncos - Moreno carried the ball just 5 times, and Thomas and Welker combined for 21 receptions while Decker, JT, and Moreno didn't even get 10 catches together.  I think that's a huge reason for the Broncos loss - they didn't spread the ball enough when the top guys got covered, while the Seahawks were basically playing the hot hand every snap.  One player doesn't make or break your team.

[JO_75]

Any team dumb enough to give up two first round picks for Graham would be stupid. Only the teams with bad management would be the only ones stupid enough to do such a thing.

 

Second, Graham is a free agent at the WORST possible time as a Tight End. This is the first draft in a long time that we have seen such a deep talented crop of TEs that can come in instantly and make an impact. We could name 2-3 TEs that could go in the first round alone. With the rookie wage scale, the Saints could realistically if they get no offers and just draft a young TE to eventually replace Graham a year from now at a cheaper cost.

 

Or if some team is dumb enough to give up two first round picks, the Saints can take those picks, find a TE to replace Graham at a cheaper cost. No matter what, this rookie wage scale may have the Saints second guessing giving him a long term deal. Why pay him so much, kill more of the cap room when you can save cap space by going with a rookie TE who you can get for 5 years on the cheap.

[RLewis52]

_{Not only would I not give up 2 first round picks, I wouldn't give up 1. Maybe a 2nd and 3rd rounder though, but with a loaded draft, it wouldn't be worth it}

[Purple_ICE 81]

Nah...he has shown that if you stick someone other than a slow LB on him he can be shutdown. All it takes is a physical defender and Graham caves...he had 0 catches 0 yards and 0 TDs against the Patriots because he couldnt out muscle Aquib Talib.

 

He is a very good TE but will come way too expensive costing 2 first rounders and a lot of cap room once he is resigned by us post trade.  Dennis Pitta has potential for 100 catches 1000 yards and double digit scores anyway...Im really eager to see Pitta play his first year as our go to receiver he could have been bigtime last year.

[Purple_ICE 81]

If I was the Patriots I would definitely consider it. Between  2010-2012 Tom Brady won an MVP and went to the SB the following season (but lost) because no one could stop the tandem of Gronkowski and Hernandez. Bill Bellicheck practically revolutionized the standard offense by proving that 2 pass catching TEs can be deployed at the same time and are impossible to stop...they spread everything out and leave mismatches all over the field.

 

The Patriots need insurance on Gronkowski due to his injury problems and also lack other playmakers in general. But I couldnt imagine the dominance Brady would have with the 2 best TEs at his disposal...with the other young weapons he has too. Thats just the thing they need to finally win a SB after losing for so long.

[redrum52]

Not only would I not give up 2 first round picks, I wouldn't give up 1. Maybe a 2nd and 3rd rounder though, but with a loaded draft, it wouldn't be worth it

What this guy said but I would probably only give up a 3rd. He's kind of soft. Not many players I would give up 2 firsts for.

[redrum52]

I would not. Great athlete but he's immature and, frankly, soft. I'll just say he fits the Saints

Great athlete and very talented TE, but I dont think people realize he's not that physical. Gronk, though seemingly injury prone, is tougher to me.