Best Saints By The Numbers: #80

All summer long, we’re going to list the best players in New Orleans Saints history to wear every number, 00-99.Yesterday, we did #79

Today, #80:

The pick: Jimmy Graham

When deciding who is the best New Orleans Saints player to ever wear #80, the choice is limited to defensive linemen Jim Garcia and Mike Walker, tight ends Tony Johnson, Mark Campbell, Shad Meier, Jimmy Graham, and Darnell Dinkins, and receivers Doug Winslow, Sam Havrilak, Earl McCullough. Larry Burton, Gordon Banks, Lindsay Scott, Mike Miller, Malcolm Barnwell, Herbert Harris, Stacey Dawsey, Brett Perriman, Wesley Carroll, Marcus Dowdell, Tyrone Johnson, Haywood Jeffires, Daryl Hobbs, Alvin Harper, P.J. Franklin, Robert Wilson, and Jerome Pathon.

Our selection is going to be Graham, a tight end, who played for the Saints for 5 years, from 2010-2014.

After playing his college football at Miami, Graham was selected by the Saints in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Graham caught 31 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns as a reserve in his rookie season, before becoming a starter in 2011.

As a 4-year starter at tight end, from 2011-2014, Graham compiled 355 receptions for 3,896 and 46 touchdowns, while being named to the Pro Bowl three times.

The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Graham was traded by the Saints to the Seattle Seahawks following the 2004 season.

In 3 years with the Saints, Graham appeared in 45 games, including 32 as a starter, racking up 121 catches for 1,682 yards and 9 touchdowns.

In 5 NFL seasons, all with the Saints prior to 2015, Graham has appeared in 78 games over 5 seasons, finishing with 386 receptions for 4,752 yards and 51 touchdowns.