Yesterday I ran a fairly unflattering item on Jimmy Graham, pointing out that he hasn't been a big part of the passing game for three different teams in the last four seasons. And that's true, and maybe the Bears could do better things with the money they're paying him in 2021. But in fairness, the guy is pretty good at scoring touchdowns.

As Ian pointed out in the comments, Graham caught 8 touchdowns last season, and another one in Chicago's playoff loss to his original team, the Saints. In his heyday, Graham was a monster in this regard, catching 46 touchdowns in a four-year span from 2011 through 2014. And even more recently, he's still been pretty good in that regard.

True, he caught only 5 touchdowns in his two wasted seasons with the Packers. But those were bookended by 10 and 8 touchdowns with Seattle in 2017 and Chicago last year. Over those same four seasons I spoke disparagingly about yesterday, Graham's 23 touchdown receptions rank 4th among all tight ends. If Aaron Rodgers had looked his way just a little more often, he'd behind only Travis Kelce.

TIGHT END RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS, 2017-2020
PlayerGTgtNoYdsTD
Travis Kelce62553388501934
Eric Ebron58339206225725
Jared Cook61312202279324
Jimmy Graham64321200205923
Zach Ertz56473314323823
Mark Andrews45236156210520
Kyle Rudolph60248188186719
Cameron Brate64215142147318
Rob Gronkowski43254161238918
Darren Fells641148394717
Austin Hooper58320241240817
Jonnu Smith60169114130216
Trey Burton52178119115114
O.J. Howard42159105160214
George Kittle53369264357914
Jack Doyle51246172163413
Evan Engram50356216242013
Hunter Henry40231160184413
Robert Tonyan43806676313
Dallas Goedert42196137146512
Darren Waller36268203241612
Mike Gesicki47206126147511
Tyler Higbee62228162184211
Tyler Kroft42986463011
David Njoku49187112127911
Jason Witten48187139115811

So I owe Jimmy Graham an apology. Yes he doesn't move as well as he used to, and he won't be a big factor between the 20s this season. But if he is back in Chicago, or wherever he plays, it seems like bad business to bet against him scoring 6-8 touchdowns, or more. Pretty good scorer, not only in his prime, but even now.

--Andy Richardson