Jimmy Graham is getting his wish. He’s going to get an opportunity to redeem himself for last season with the team that signed him to a three-year deal. Redemption is not always granted for free agent signings especially after a brutal first year. Usually, the team will move on from that player and start focusing on the next guy at their position. Packers are not doing that. According to Ian Rapoport, Packers will be bringing back Graham next season. While Green Bay cutting him would have made sense, keeping him is not a bad move either.

A non-Super Bowl tidbit: When the #Packers prepare for the offseason, they do so with the belief that TE Jimmy Graham will be back for 2019, source said. He’s due a $5M roster bonus on 3/15, and the expectation now is they pay it and he returns. Another season with Aaron Rodgers.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 29, 2019

Matt LaFleur’s offense is going to feature tight ends fairly often. He will run something similar to what Kyle Shanahan does and look no further than the year George Kittle had in 2018. Graham might have lost a step, but the opportunity for him to be a factor will be readily available versus last year with Mike McCarthy. The hope is Graham can stay injury-free throughout the year an potentially have a better chemistry with Aaron Rodgers with a second year together.

I would expect Green Bay to hunt for a tight end early in the NFL Draft as well. Draft experts say this is a deep tight end draft with potentially six going in the first 100 picks. T.J. Hockenson is the headliner, and someone who legtimately might be the best player on the board at 12. Packers draft a tight end high and pairing with Graham could be lethal. Tight end seems to be one of the hardest positions for rookies to adjust to the NFL.

Here’s to a great 2019, Jimmy.

Charlie.