Saints Trade Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks

To start off a wild Free Agency period, the New Orleans Saints have traded All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger and the Seahawks first round (31st overall) pick.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports 1 delivered the news Tuesday, right before the new league year started.

Here’s what our Joe Wedra had to say on the deal:

"If this deal goes through, you have to look at the New Orleans Saints as the winners. In all honesty, getting O-Line help and another first round pick shouldn’t go under-looked. Graham is one of the NFL’s best, but the new breed of NFL tight ends should lead to more Graham-like skills in the league. I love everything about this deal. Both teams did well, but Saints fans should be the happiest."

I’m going to have to disagree with Joe on this one (it’s ok). I think the Seahawks came out on top in this deal. Who are you going to draft at the 31st pick that’s better than Jimmy Graham? Nobody. The Saints were so cash strapped that they had to get rid of one of the best players in the league to get some cap relief.

However, the Saints id pick up some valuable assets. A first round pick and Max Unger is nothing to sneeze at. Drew Brees needed to have his interior protection upgraded and the Saints pulled off this deal to do just that. Both teams came out well but I give the Seahawks the edge because they’re ready to win now and all they needed in their offense was a big time receiving offense.

Think about it this way. How does “the play” look if Russell Wilson is throwing the ball to Jimmy Graham instead one of the receivers he already had? Might be a little different.

Seahawks Grade: A

Saints Grade: B+

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