NFL franchise tag 2018: 10 players most likely to be tagged
7. Jimmy Graham
Dominant red zone targets are a premium in the NFL. Names like Rob Gronkwski and Julio Jones come to mind when you think about these types of players. Jimmy Graham is on the cusp of being that type of redzone threat. In his second season in Seattle Graham has emerged as a serious offensive weapon for them, and he should be rewarded.
Because Graham is 31, it would be risky to give him a long-term contract. He will likely only be this productive for one to two more years, so the tag could make more sense than an extension. However, due to the complicated bonus structure in his deal following him from his days in New Orleans could make the tag a bit more expensive than expected.
Graham made $10 million this season, which is pretty high for a tight end. The tag would typically cost around $12 million, but with the odd inner-workings of his deal, this number jumps to roughly $15.48 million. That is a little much for an older tight end that is not the same player he used to be. Spending that much on Graham, when there are more pressing needs to address would be a mistake.
Improving the offensive line and revamping the defense both should take priority to resigning Graham. With the Niners and Rams both on the rise, the Seahawks need to be smart about how their use their cap space. Their dominance in the NFC East is coming to a close, it may be time to begin thinking about a potential rebuild.