The New Orleans Saints and Jimmy Graham, it just sounds right.
But while it took until Tuesday morning for the reunion to happen with a 1-year deal, it'd been considered several times in years past, Saints GM Mickey Loomis said on the eve of training camp. This time, though, the fit just worked.
"it just came down to a need on our part and desire on his part to play this year and we’ve got, I think, a role that fits him and fits us and came together, so I’m excited about it, I am," Loomis said. "I think he brings a lot to the team, not just in terms of his play — although that’s the No. 1 reason he’s here is man he can still play and bring something to our team — but he also brings a presence and a resume and I guess an attitude ... that I like having on our team.”
Graham's role will be interesting to see develop, though it's not difficult to envision a red zone skillset that could be taken advantage of in a room led by Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau. Graham was out of football in 2022, but even with some diminished production in his final two seasons with the Bears he still put up 11 touchdowns.
"I'm back home. Incredible. Incredible to be here," Graham said in a message to Saints fans on social media. "Back in this building, back with the guys. Can't wait to see you at training camp, can't wait to see you in the Superdome. Looking forward to every second, every moment of it."
Head coach Dennis Allen wouldn't go into exactly what would be expected from Graham, but he made it clear they have a vision for him. The 36-year-old visited the team Monday and went through a workout before putting pen to paper Tuesday morning.
"He wants to be here. He wants to play for the Saints and we felt like that was a good addition for that room," Allen said. "We’ve got some young, ascending players in that room. ... We’ve got some young players that we feel good about and are looking to develop, and we felt like Jimmy was kind of the perfect fit for that room.”
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However Graham gets worked in, there's no question that his return will be a welcome sight for a large number of Saints fans. He'll be back in No. 80, the same number he wore throughout a dominant run in New Orleans that ended with a heavily criticized trade prior to the 2015 season. Loomis wouldn't look too far in the rear-view mirror to assess what he feels about the trade today, but he did make it clear at least one person close to him wasn't a fan -- at all.
"Maybe I’ll get the respect of my daughter back," Loomis said with a smile, "because she killed me when we traded him years ago. That was her favorite player, so yea, I think she’ll be excited.”
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