http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000922026/article/worst-freeagency-deals-case-keenum-jordy-nelson-overpriced 

per NFL we picked up a worst free agent signing given the cost and potential reward.

They also rate nelson as one too - but again Id rather have him then JG.

They suggest JG will be one of the most if not the most paid TE out there - will find it hard to believe he is going to be better then all others out there considering the pay.

Lets hope he is worth it considering atm we wont have a backfield to stop the pass atm.

In the salary cap era, the cap is king. That other crap is for the accountants to worry about. Jimmy Graham on a linebacker is game, set, and match. This draft has some real solid options at receiver and we have some guys on this team looking to step up. This will be fun!

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A vertical TE opens things up for WR's. We saw that with Jermichael Finley. We haven't had that threat since him. Aaron Rodgers makes WR2 look like WR1. Jordy used to be a WR1 (in my view) but has declined. That happens with age, we all know that. Davante Adams is our WR1. Randall Cobb can dominate in the slot.

WR1 Davante Adams
WR2 Randall Cobb
TE1 Jimmy Graham

If someone like Jeff Janis, Geronimo Allison or Trevor Davis can't step up and earn WR3, we have bigger issues than paying a reasonable contract (in year one) to Jimmy Graham.

Our offense is going to be fine. I believe we have all of our OL coming back, that's HUGE.

We lose one starter and we gained two starters. We got rid of a malcontent immature CB in Damarious Randall and added competition to the backup QB job while also saving something like $600k in the process.

We also got the Bears to spend $4 million more than they wanted to on their own player.

So far this season has been a team success, while also being a sentimental bummer (Jordy). We have things to be excited about.

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Also, if our personnel department cannot find a receiver in the draft, there is a bigger issue at hand. I have to believe they'll find a playmaker in this draft. There are options.

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That's completely wrong...
As "That other crap" is what sets the cap. The cap years are like WRs, and the "other crap" is the QB that's throwing to the WRs.

The caps are adjustable and muniplatable... what you have actually spent (ie not able to get back, ie dead cap space) is not.

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I like you, but I'm siding with Vic Ketchman on this one.

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And what is Vic saying? Because you are implying we disagree, but Vic would probably agree with basic budget math... if you guaranteed to pay someone $13 million... $5 million within a year and the rest later... how much did you just spend?

You just spent $13 million... it's that simple. Because it's coming out no matter what.
(Edit, this is asumming that guarantees are actually guaranteed, and the time value of money doesn't come into play because there is no alternative way to invest cap money, other than into players)

The cap is accounting crap (being in the accounting field, I should know),... accounting for the spending after you have spent it, which is why there is dead cap space for players no longer on the roster.

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Here's what it comes down to:

Graham playing 1yr in GB, 13M bucks;
Graham playing 2yrs in GB, 22M Bucks;
Graham opting out in year 3, priceless!

If Graham is great [not in any way possible], the 3rd year is a bargain at $8M; but Graham can opt out. GB’s GM got completely schooled, embarrassingly so.

Damn an I just learned a few days ago that Graham is NOT in any way a RZ threat.

Graham is not Finley; because Finley could BLOCK and Graham WONT.

You say a TE threatening deep opens up the passing game. To the extent this is true, it ONLY works if the TE can BLOCK!

Please follow the thinking here:

Let’s say a TE runs a deep seam or other deep route and it opens up the passing game. Why can’t an offense take the TE off the field and simply use a WR to run the exact same route? Heck the WR is probably faster and can better threaten deep.

What makes the TE valuable versus a WR in this regard is that the TE is a threat to Block. In the run game a TE can neutralize a DE, defeat a LB and maul a safety. So if you play a safety or smaller coverage LB over the TE there’s a mismatch in the run game; if a bulk LB plays the TE, one has a mismatch in passing game. Many times in a game a defense playing an Olsen, Gates or Gronkowski will scheme a DE or bulk LB over the TE if a run and transition a Safety or Speed LB, if he releases. It is the mismatch or the split second required by the D to recognize run or pass that opens up the passing game.

But if the TE cant block literally better than my grandma, ya know like Jimmy Boy, a team can just play a safety, CB or cover/speed LB on the TE. Under this scenario the TE threatening deep does no better than a WR, so you mind as well just take the TE off the field and play a WR.

ACME has article talking about Seattle rarely running Graham deep.



To the extent this is true; DCs only pay a speed/coverage LBs or DBs over Jimmy Boy.