Although Graham's request to be declared a wide receiver was denied earlier this month, he still broke new ground with the deal, which is the richest for a tight end in NFL history. It surpassed the $9 million per year that the New England Patriots gave Rob Gronkowski in a six-year, $54 million extension in 2012, and it reflects the kind of revolutionary hybrid weapon Graham has become.
The two sides came down to the wire before the Tuesday deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term contracts. But the fact that they got such a lucrative deal done is a good sign that there won't be any lingering animosity from the negotiations, which included a groundbreaking arbitration hearing in which Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis testified against Graham's wide receiver argument.
Graham was angling for an even bigger payday when he filed the grievance, asking to be declared a receiver instead of a tight end for franchise-tag purposes. But his request was ultimately rejected by arbitrator Stephen Burbank earlier this month.
In the end, though, the deal appears to be a win-win for a team and player that have been a perfect fit for one another since the Saints drafted the former University of Miami basketball player in the third round in 2010.
Over the past three years, the former college basketball player has led all NFL players with 36 touchdown catches, while averaging 90 catches, 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns per season. He was a first-team All-Pro last season and a Pro Bowler in 2011 and 2013.
Information from ESPN.com Saints reporter Mike Triplett was used in this report.
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