Saints bring back tight end Jimmy Graham and sign guard Trai Turner

Trai Turner (Joe Glorioso, All Pro Reels/Wikimedia Commons)

The New Orleans Saints made two interesting free agent signings on Tuesday according to the Associated Press. They signed tight end Jimmy Graham of Goldsboro, North Carolina and offensive guard Trai Turner of New Orleans, Louisiana to separate one-year contracts.

Graham is actually returning to the Saints after playing his first five National Football League seasons there from 2010 to 2014. He also played three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks from 2015 to 2017, two seasons with the Green Bay Packers in 2018 and 2019, and two seasons with the Chicago Bears in 2020 and 2021. The Saints are taking a bit of a gamble in signing Graham, because he did not play in the NFL during the entire 2022 season and is 36 years of age.

During his first time in New Orleans though Graham played a significant role for the Saints. He was selected to three Pro Bowls (2011, and 2013, and 2014), and led the National Football League with 16 touchdown catches in 2013. In 78 games with the Saints, Graham had 386 catches for 4752 receiving yards and 51 touchdown catches.

After leaving the Saints, Graham was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Seahawks in 2016 and 2017. In 184 NFL career games, he has 713 catches for 8506 receiving yards and 85 touchdown catches. It will now be interesting to see the chemistry Graham will have with new Saints quarterback Derek Carr.

Turner is joining his fifth NFL franchise. He played his first six seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2014 to 2019. Turner then spent one season each with the Los Angeles Chargers (2020), Pittsburgh Steelers (2021), and Washington Commanders (2022). While with the Panthers, Turner was selected to five straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2019.

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