Revisiting the Saints-Seahawks Trade for Jimmy Graham

Remember when Jimmy Graham was viewed as the most dominant tight end in the NFL? Yeah, that was a long time ago, though he's still getting paid like a game-breaker thanks to the Chicago Bears.

Back when he was Drew Brees' favorite target on the New Orleans Saints, he was on top of the world. However, the Saints and Seattle Seahawks hammered out a trade that sent Graham to the Pacific Northwest to catch passes from quarterback Russell Wilson. Now, it's time take a look back at the trade and determine who came out on top.

Seahawks-Saints Jimmy Graham Trade Details

• Seahawks Received: TE Jimmy Graham, New Orleans' 2015 fourth-round pick
• Saints Received: C Max Unger, Seattle's 2015 first-round pick

In 2015, the Seahawks were looking to put their team over the edge after falling to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. They opted to get Wilson a weapon in Graham, who came at the expense of their then two-time Pro Bowl center in Max Unger and a first-round draft selection.

All told, Graham never really panned out in Seattle. After a decent start in 2015, Graham went down with a torn patellar tendon. The following year is which he really shined, as Graham recorded 65 receptions for 923 yards and six touchdowns. 2017, however, was a true anomaly. Graham had just 520 yards, but had 10 touchdowns to his credit. That proved to be the end of the line, as he left for the Green Bay Packers in free agency.

The 2015 fourth-rounder Seattle received? Well, that was used (along with their third-, fifth-, and sixth-round picks) to move up into the third round to select receiver Tyler Lockett in a trade with the Washington Redskins. Lockett went on to become a star in Seattle, and one of the more attractive big-play wideouts in the league today.

As for the Saints, they got a consistent center in Unger for four years, where he made his third-career Pro Bowl in 2018. Unfortunately, that proved to be his last-ever season, as he retired due to lingering injury issues.

New Orleans used their newly acquired first-round pick to select Clemson linebacker Stephon Anthony, who shined in his rookie season, recording 112 tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception. However, his stint in New Orleans lasted two seasons, as he was moved to the Miami Dolphins for a 2018 fifth-round pick.

Who Won the Seahawks-Saints Jimmy Graham Trade?

The Seahawks won this transaction, and it has nothing much to do with Graham himself -- it was the fourth-round pick that they turned into stud wideout Tyler Lockett. While the Saints got Unger, it didn't yield them much success, especially in the playoffs. That's what it's all about, so the nod has to go to Seattle.