NFL Rumors: Seattle Seahawks not likely to pursue Jimmy Graham

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham was slapped with the franchise tag meaning any team that signs Graham would have to forfeit two first round picks in addition to the potential $100 million dollar contract he would command.

Now that’s certainly a steep price, but could the Seattle Seahawks picking at the bottom of the first round and coming off a Super Bowl win sacrifice the 32nd pick in the draft to add a dynamic player like Graham? Not according to the Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei who cites the young defenders on the roster who warrant their own deals.

"“The Seahawks are not likely to be pursuing tight end Jimmy Graham, who was franchised by the Saints. The problem is the Seahawks have too many of their own young players—including Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner—to pay to give Graham a record-setting deal. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl by playing great defense, and general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll have no intention of deviating from the formula and allowing their best defensive players to leave.”"

The Seahawks already gave up a first round pick to acquire Percy Harvin last year and to go three straight years without a pick in the first round is not a great blueprint to build a dynasty, even for a player as talented as Graham.