2021 roster rank No. 30: What is Chicago Bears plan for Jimmy Graham?

Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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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

Last Season: 18 

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.

Next. 5 reasons Justin Fields is perfect with Matt Nagy. dark

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