Jimmy Graham now makes a little more than Rob Gronkowski


If "a little more" to you is five million dollars.

You may have heard the news by now, after much turmoil, the New Orleans Saints and star tight end Jimmy Graham have agreed to a new contract.



The deadline of course was later today, otherwise Graham would have to play this year under the franchise tag (the tight end franchise tag, which made all kinds of controversy after Graham demanded he be considered a wide receiver). All told the deal is four years, $40 million. It makes Graham the highest paid tight end in the game. Even above our beloved Rob Gronkowski.

Kevin Patra, NFL.com:
Graham received a $12 million signing bonus and between $20 to $21 million of the deal is guaranteed, [Ian] Rapoport reported. Graham will carry a $4 million cap number for 2014. He will earn $21 million over the first two years of the contract and $30 million over three years.

The tight end's new contract places him above Rob Gronkowski's annual average salary of $9 million per season. Graham also got a higher guaranteed number than Gronk's $16.5 million on the Patriots' six-year, $53 million extension signed in 2012.

Gronk gets the last laugh though (sort of). He cashed in on his deal early, basically resigning himself to less money (relatively) but taking that security of having a contract. That's worked out pretty well for the big guy, as he's missed 17 games over the past two years (counting playoffs) since signing that contract. You think if Gronk was up for a contract now he'd get only $5 million less than Jimmy Graham?

The answer is no.

Gronk wins, he's rich!


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