Report: Jimmy Graham, Saints have mutual interest in reunion

The New Orleans Saints are looking to upgrade at the tight end position this offseason, and it just so happens that the best one on the market is a very familiar face. Could a reunion be in order?

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Jimmy Graham and the Saints have mutual interest in being reunited.

The #Saints have strong interest in a reunion with TE Jimmy Graham. The feeling is mutual. @MikeGarafolo mentioned this weeks ago, and there is a lot of momentum toward this. A good reason to never burn bridges…

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2018

Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo noted that Graham isn’t the only tight end the Saints have their eye on.

The Saints are also expected to have some interest in TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins as well. So they’re checking on multiple TEs.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2018

Graham became one of the biggest stars in the NFL during his five seasons in New Orleans, and it was downright shocking when the Saints traded him to Seattle for center Max Unger back in 2015. The trade seemed to make little sense for both teams, and you could argue that both were worse off after it went down.

Graham has played in all 16 games in each of the past two seasons. He flirted with 1,000 yards in 2016 and caught 65 passes, while he had only 520 yards last season but was still a top red zone threat with 10 touchdown catches. He’s still only 31, so it makes sense that the Saints would be interested in bringing him back after they looked like a Super Bowl contender in 2017.

For what it’s worth, Graham has indicated in the past that he was happy to get out of New Orleans. There’s a good chance that was just bitterness talking, however.