The New Orleans Saints are no stranger to reunion arcs, but few could be bigger than this one: Jimmy Graham is back with the Saints.
The 36-year-old tight end has agreed to a one-year deal with his former team, a move that was announced by the Saints on the eve of training camp.
The move will make waves simply because of the incredible nature of Graham's tenure in New Orleans, but the question will soon become just how much he has left in the tank. Graham was not on an NFL roster in the 2022 season, and was last on the field as a member of the Chicago Bears. While never reaching the peaks of him time in New Orleans with any team sense, he has continued to be a red zone weapon. During his two years in Chicago he caught 64 passes on 99 targets for 623 yards and 11 touchdowns.
His last game in the Caesars Superdome came in the 2020 postseason when he hauled in a spectacular one-handed touchdown as time expired, though the Saints still won 21-9.
Graham also spent two years with the Packers, hauling in 93 catches on 149 targets for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns. Graham's biggest post-New Orleans impact came with the Seahawks, where the star TE was somewhat controversially traded prior to the 2015 season. His three years in Seattle included 175 catches on 265 targets for 2,048 yards and 18 touchdowns.
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Graham's return will stir memories of the dynamic duo he formed with quarterback Drew Brees from 2010-2014, to the tune of 386 catches on 595 targets for 4,752 yards and 51 touchdowns. His biggest season came in 2013 when he hauled in 86 receptions for 1,215 yards and 16 TDs.
It's just the latest in a series of reunions for New Orleans, a group that has included Ben Watson, Malcolm Jenkins, Mark Ingram and Patrick Robinson all returning to the Saints in the past several seasons after playing elsewhere.
The Saints certainly have some opportunity in their tight end room, which is headlined by Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau. The team kicks off camp practices on Wednesday, with the first open practice on Friday, a date where many No. 80 jerseys will almost certainly be in attendance at the team facility in Metairie.
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