2021 roster rank No. 30: What is Chicago Bears plan for Jimmy Graham?
We are counting down the days until the Chicago Bears get to training camp by counting down the Chicago Bears roster. This is a look at the value each player with bringing to the Chicago Bears in the 2021 season. Now that we have entered the top 30 we will begin to look player by player.
Number 30. Chicago Bears Tight End Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham comes in at number 30 which is fair because he is not one of the 22 starters, but is going to have a role in the offense. It is also worth noting that number 18 may have been ambitious last season although the contract that he is being paid, and the way that Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace talk about Graham makes it seem like he should be higher.
Still, he is clearly now behind Cole Kmet as the transition came after the Bears bye week last season. All thoughts were that the Bears would save cap space by letting Graham, but Matt Nagy has been adamant about a second tight end and being able to run 12 personnel more often.
He wants to use run blocking looks and throw out of them to hurt teams. The issue is that Graham is not a blocker, and is mainly just a jump ball threat in the red zone. This puts second-round pick, Cole Kmet, as the primary blocker of the two. He is certainly more versatile but was up and down as a blocker in his rookie season.
It makes sense why the Bears would keep Graham with the ned for depth and with Kmet rounding into form, but it does not make sense that he is being paid so much and that spent this on a piece that is not as versatile as Matt Nagy typically wants from his offensive skill players.
This is where he drops from 18 to 30, but still cracks the top 30.
Check out 90-31 below.
90. Brian Johnson
89. Rojesterman Farris
88. Khalil McClain
87. Caleb Johnson
86. Sam Kamara
85. Daniel Arcibong
84. Scooter Harrington
83. Chris Lacy
82. Dionte Ruffin
81. Rodney Adams
80. Tyrone Wheatley
79. Thomas Ives
78. CJ Marable
77. Jester Weah
76. Jake Butt
75. Teez Tabor
74. LeCale London
73. Daureuan Parker
72. Michael Joseph
71. LeDarius Mack
70. Adam Redmond
69. Tre Roberson
68. Xavier Crawford
67. Badara Traore
66. Artavis Pierce
65. Ryan Nall
64. Riley Ridley
63. Patrick Scales
62. Joel Iyiegbuniwe
61. Charles Snowden
60. Dieter Eiselen
59. Artie Burns
58. Lachavious Simmons
57. Jesper Horsted
56. Arlington Hambright
55. Dazz Newsome
54. Marqui Christian
53. Josh Woods
52. Jordan Lucas
51. James Vaughters
50. DeAndre Houston-Carson
49. Austin Calitro
48. Khiyris Tonga
47. Javon Wims
46. Nick Foles
45. Thomas Graham
44. Mike Pennel
43. Trevis Gipson
42. Pat O’Donnell
41. J.P. Holtz
40. Khalil Herbert
39. Larry Borom
38. Deon Bush
37. Cairo Santos
36. Angelo Blackson
35. Elijah Wilkinson
34. Damien Williams
33. Damiere Byrd
32. Marquise Goodwin
31. Alex Bars