Saints Place Franchise Tag on Graham
Published at
Chris Graythen/Getty Images(NEW ORLEANS) — Jimmy Graham has been given the franchise tag…but for what position?
The New Orleans Saints placed the designation on Graham expecting to pay him like a tight end, but Graham may argue that he should be payed like a receiver.
Graham and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, are expected to file a grievance through the players’ association asking that the 27-year-old be considered a receiver.
Graham lined up 67 percent of his snaps last season either out wide or in the slot. The league’s collective bargaining agreement says that a the franchise tag is based on the position a player lines up most during the prior NFL season.
It would be signficant financially for Graham to be considered a receiver because a recievers’ tag is worth $12.3 million while a tight ends’ is worth $7.04 million.
ESPN also reports that the Saints used their non-exlusive franchise tag on Graham. That means Graham can sign with another team that’s willing to give New Orleans two first-round draft picks as compensation.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio