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Started By
Message
USA today gets the Graham trade...
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:27 am
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:27 am
LINK
Winners:
New Orleans Saints
Losing Jimmy Graham might look like a step backwards for the Saints offense, but it could end up being a net positive. Drew Brees is at his most effective when he has to climb the pocket and drive the ball; but with mediocre interior line play, there was no room to do so last season. Acquiring Unger should remedy that. The Saints also picked up a first round pick in the deal, which can be used to find Graham’s replacement. Michigan’s Devin Funchess, a talented receiver who could make the switch to tight end, could be that guy.
Losers:
Jimmy Graham
Graham just went from a future Hall of Fame quarterback and one of the most creative offensive minds to a run-first team with a quarterback who operates best out of structure. There will be games where Graham doesn’t get the targets he’s used to, and that will take a toll on his stats.
Marshawn Lynch
With the Graham trade, the Seahawks continued their transition from a Lynch-centric attack to an offense built around Wilson. Graham is a weak run blocker, and Unger’s importance in Seattle’s zone running game cannot be overstated. Lynch can operate without a lot of space, but his degree of difficulty will be raised considerably in 2015.
Wait and See:
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks landed the best player in the Graham-Unger deal but took on a lot of risk to do so. Graham has been constantly injured and may be a bad fit in Seattle’s locker room given his past feuds with Michael Bennett and Bruce Irvin. He also comes with a large cap hit and will cost the Seahawks a first round pick. The last time the Seahawks made a similar move, it didn’t work out so great. Just ask Percy Harvin.
Drew Brees
Brees should have a cleaner pocket to work with in 2015, which should result in marked improvement for the Saints downfield passing game. Brees missed on a lot of deep opportunities because of poor protection, but many of those downfield shots were directed at Graham, who is now gone. But don’t forget: The Saints were lighting up scoreboards well before Graham arrived in New Orleans.
Winners:
New Orleans Saints
Losing Jimmy Graham might look like a step backwards for the Saints offense, but it could end up being a net positive. Drew Brees is at his most effective when he has to climb the pocket and drive the ball; but with mediocre interior line play, there was no room to do so last season. Acquiring Unger should remedy that. The Saints also picked up a first round pick in the deal, which can be used to find Graham’s replacement. Michigan’s Devin Funchess, a talented receiver who could make the switch to tight end, could be that guy.
Losers:
Jimmy Graham
Graham just went from a future Hall of Fame quarterback and one of the most creative offensive minds to a run-first team with a quarterback who operates best out of structure. There will be games where Graham doesn’t get the targets he’s used to, and that will take a toll on his stats.
Marshawn Lynch
With the Graham trade, the Seahawks continued their transition from a Lynch-centric attack to an offense built around Wilson. Graham is a weak run blocker, and Unger’s importance in Seattle’s zone running game cannot be overstated. Lynch can operate without a lot of space, but his degree of difficulty will be raised considerably in 2015.
Wait and See:
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks landed the best player in the Graham-Unger deal but took on a lot of risk to do so. Graham has been constantly injured and may be a bad fit in Seattle’s locker room given his past feuds with Michael Bennett and Bruce Irvin. He also comes with a large cap hit and will cost the Seahawks a first round pick. The last time the Seahawks made a similar move, it didn’t work out so great. Just ask Percy Harvin.
Drew Brees
Brees should have a cleaner pocket to work with in 2015, which should result in marked improvement for the Saints downfield passing game. Brees missed on a lot of deep opportunities because of poor protection, but many of those downfield shots were directed at Graham, who is now gone. But don’t forget: The Saints were lighting up scoreboards well before Graham arrived in New Orleans.
This post was edited on 3/11/15 at 10:34 am
21
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:28 am to adamb2151
Nice.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:32 am to adamb2151
quote:
Graham is a weak run blocker, and Unger’s importance in Seattle’s zone running game cannot be overstated.
USA Today must be the only ones that watch Saint's games.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:33 am to adamb2151
Nailed it.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:35 am to adamb2151
They actually hit every aspect of the trade.
Both sides won and lost. Great analysis.
Both sides won and lost. Great analysis.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:35 am to adamb2151
100% accurate 
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:37 am to adamb2151
That's the most spot on analysis I've seen since this happened.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:38 am to adamb2151
X-ray tech needs to read this.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:41 am to adamb2151
I get that we needed cap relief for future flexibility and all but what I dont get is why we didn't go after maybe lets a top tier CB or some of the other better centers than Unger in this trade. Wisniewski is still ava. in FA and is better than Unger, the eagles center Kelce is younger and better than Unger and they've obviously shown they'll take practically whatever lol. Why not take a younger solid developing corner and 2 years worth of 1st rounders which would give you the same cap relief and then you bring in Wisniewski?
Big picture: When you look at teams such as ourselves giving away 7 rounds worth of pick for players like Ricky Williams, Julio, etc and we just traded potentially the top TE in nfl history for a pretty good center [top 10] and the 32nd pick. It's over and done with now but Jesus we could have hit a homerun here
Big picture: When you look at teams such as ourselves giving away 7 rounds worth of pick for players like Ricky Williams, Julio, etc and we just traded potentially the top TE in nfl history for a pretty good center [top 10] and the 32nd pick. It's over and done with now but Jesus we could have hit a homerun here
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:42 am to kiNupe5
frick xraytech... Hope he stays on the rant.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:43 am to adamb2151
They seem to have forgotten Graham was the best receiver on the team. Drew may now have a cleaner pocket but he no longer has a matchup nightmare he can rely on.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:44 am to kiNupe5
quote:
some of the other better centers than Unger in this trade. Wisniewski is still ava. in FA and is better than Unger, the eagles center Kelce is younger and better than Unger and they've obviously shown they'll take practically whatever
um...
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:45 am to ipodking
quote:
Drew may now have a cleaner pocket but he no longer has a matchup nightmare he can rely on.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:46 am to ipodking
Yup. He can no longer force throws to JG in double or triple coverage.
And JG has no ring.
Will miss him in the red zone to be serious but keeping Drew clean in the pocket was priority #1 this off season.
And JG has no ring.
Will miss him in the red zone to be serious but keeping Drew clean in the pocket was priority #1 this off season.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:48 am to goatmilker
quote:
Will miss him in the red zone to be serious but keeping Drew clean in the pocket was priority #1 this off season.
Graham is a 500$ toaster in a kitchen with no refrigerator.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:49 am to Midget Death Squad
I'll take your um... as an assumption that you have no idea who the elite centers are in the nfl prior to yesterday.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:49 am to adamb2151
quote:
They actually hit every aspect of the trade. Both sides won and lost. Great analysis.
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:50 am to ipodking
quote:
Drew may now have a cleaner pocket but he no longer has a matchup nightmare he can force passes to which are mostly intercepted.
FIFY
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:52 am to adamb2151
quote:
Graham is a 500$ toaster in a kitchen with no refrigerator.
and the saints just sold it on craigslist to buy a fridge but sent the microwave too and forgot they still dont have a stove. 
Posted on 3/11/15 at 10:57 am to SnoopALoop
quote:
Drew may now have a cleaner pocket but he no longer has a matchup nightmare he can force passes to which are mostly intercepted.
Yall really have to stop acting like Jimmy wasn't a beast and didn't make plays almost every game. Drew was right to try and get Jimmy the ball as much as possible
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