Darren Waller is of the most dynamic young tight ends in today’s NFL. What if the Las Vegas Raiders paired him up with veteran Jimmy Graham?
A duo featuring Waller and Graham would undoubtedly enhance head coach Jon Gruden’s offense. The Packers are not expected to bring back the former All-Pro tight end according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and depending on what general manager Mike Mayock has planned, maybe the idea of this pairing the two isn’t too far-fetched.
One potential play-maker hitting the market: #Packers TE Jimmy Graham is not expected back in Green Bay, sources say. The move with the 33-year old former free agent signing is noteable, though not a surprise for anyone involved.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2020
Last year, tight end was one of the Raiders strongest positions thanks largely to Waller, who saw his numbers gradually drop about mid-season as defenses started to adjust. Rookie Foster Moreau showed off his talent as well when he was given a chance. Most noticeably, he ended the 2019 season with five touchdown passes. Yes, Moreau’s touchdown total matches Graham’s two-year production as far as scoring, but that’s not looking at the whole picture. Graham is 33 and relatively healthy, adding him will open the field exponentially. It would force defenses to zone in on one tight end, creating a mismatch for either Waller or Graham, which in turn would be a security blanket for quarterback Derek Carr as we saw how much he favored Waller last year.
As with any free agent, the cost of Graham’s services will obviously play a factor. His last contract with Green Bay was for three years, $30 million with a total signing bonus worth $11 million per Spotrac. However, it’s not known what his market value will be if he’s indeed cut. There will be plenty of tight end free agents this months, but what if Graham, along with a first round wide receiver, can get rid of the Raiders offensive woes. The possibility is there.
