![Report: Jimmy Graham To File Immediate Grievance If Franchise Tagged As A Tight End](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2014/02/186042868.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Report: Jimmy Graham To File Immediate Grievance If Franchise Tagged As A Tight End
If New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham received the franchise tag at his position, he plans to file an immediate grievance with the league. This, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
As I highlighted yesterday at the start of a “franchise tag” period, the Saints have until March 3rd to work out a long-term deal with Graham. If they can't, the exclusive franchise tag will assuredly be placed on him.
Graham is a tight end. He wants to be paid like a wide receiver. On 67% of his offensive snaps, he lined up in the slot or out wide. His agent Jimmy Sexton will argue that Graham is more of a wide receiver than a tight end.
The difference in a franchise tagged WR and a franchise tagged TE is roughly $4.5 million.
For the Saints to place a franchise tag on Graham, they'd have to clear out enough cap space to do so. If he's tagged as a tight end, the Saints would need to create $6.8 million of current cap space. If he's tagged as a wide receiver, they would need $11.6 million of cap space
If and when Graham files a grievance, the outcome could have a drastic effect on how many players Saints GM Mickey Loomis can keep around during offseason negotiating.
Loomis has maintained that the Saints view Graham as a tight end.
The best way to avoid a grievance would be for the Saints and Graham's camp to agree to a long-term deal. This scenario is highly unlikely, as no progress has been made in the negotiations.
As I stated yesterday. Dig in Saints fans. It's going to be an interested offseason.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Louisiana Ranks High in ‘Sore Loser’ Survey](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/03/attachment-sore-loser.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Jameis Winston, Ex-Saints QB, Finalizing Deal with Cleveland Browns](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2021/09/attachment-jameis-chause.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![This Tweet From Jimmy Graham Has Saints Fans Thinking He Might Return to New Orleans](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2022/09/attachment-GettyImages-458706766.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Jimmy Graham Sounds Off On Social Media About NFLPA’s Recent COVID-19 Guidelines](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2021/08/attachment-GettyImages-1270148391.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Best Players Ever Drafted By The Saints From Each ACC School](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2021/03/GettyImages-279700.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Report: Saints Said To Have Interest In Bringing Jimmy Graham Back To New Orleans](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2014/07/186042868.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Reviewing The Saints’ Jimmy Graham Trade, Now](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2017/09/graham.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Top 5 New Orleans Saints Tight Ends Of All-Time](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2017/06/jimmygraham.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Cajuns Place Three on All-Louisiana Baseball Team](http://townsquare.media/site/37/files/2020/10/ulbaseballcap.jpg?w=980&q=75)