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Jimmy Graham jumps from Packers to Bears on two-year, $16 million deal

Jimmy Graham is jumping sides in the Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears rivalry, reportedly agreeing to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Bears.

Graham basically confirmed the news a few hours later with an interesting post on Twitter.

The Packers cut Graham on Thursday, unceremoniously ending a tenure in Green Bay that was underwhelming for all involved.

Hyped as a devastating red zone weapon for Aaron Rodgers to play with, Graham totaled only five touchdowns in two seasons for the Packers while averaging 33.8 receiving yards per game. He remained his usual self in the blocking game, which is to say nonexistent.

With $8 million in cap space up for grabs, cutting Graham was a no-brainer for Green Bay.

Bears TEs did little last year

Graham will join a team that didn’t make much use of the tight end position last year.

Not a single tight end topped more than 100 receiving yards in Chicago last season, with J.P. Holtz leading the group at 91 yards. The team’s top two names, 2018 free agent acquisition Trey Burton and former second-rounder Adam Shaheen, both finished the season on injured reserve.

The Bears’ strategy to remedy that was apparently to stock up on more tight ends than any team in the league.

Who will be throwing to Jimmy Graham in Chicago?

Adding Graham likely does little for the Bears in the long run. The far bigger question is who will be throwing to that enormous stable of tight ends, and there are plenty of ways that could go.

Former second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky has made it quite clear that he’s not a quarterback who can take the Bears to the promised land. The team could sign free agent Teddy Bridgewater, and there has also been chatter about trading for Andy Dalton or Nick Foles.

Jimmy Graham's tenure in Green Bay wasn't what many were hoping. We'll see if it's any different with the Packers' rival. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Jimmy Graham's tenure in Green Bay wasn't what many were hoping. We'll see if it's any different with the Packers' rival. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

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