Bears TE Jimmy Graham Wants To Stay In Chicago

Jimmy Graham wants to remain on the Chicago Bears but whether or not the organization will keep him is still unknown.

The veteran tight end signed a two-year contract worth $16 million last season. However, there is uncertainty about whether he would be cut from the team to clear cap space. This situation comes because of a decreasing salary cap that will drop to $185 million for 2021. The Bears have to decide who to cut in order to adjust the roster to this cap decrease.

Chicago could cut Graham, as it would give the team about $7 million in free cap space. While this is possible, the tight end does not want to be cut from the team. Graham is aware of the predicament the team is in and of the fact that he may be cut to make cap space.

Last season, the 34-year-old recorded 50 receptions for 456 yards and eight touchdowns. While he was solid and dependable for the Bears, Chicago already has plans for newer and younger talent to replace him. The team drafted tight end Cole Knet in the 2020 NFL Draft. Knet showed promise throughout his rookie season and will be ready for his second year with the team.

Graham appeared on the Hoge and Jahns podcast on Thursday, where he talked about the uncertainty that is the offseason. “We’ll see what happens kinda once I talk to everybody and once they figure out what they want to do,” Graham said. On the podcast, he spoke about wanting to remain on the team, as he wants to retire with the Bears.