According to Field Yates, the Bears gave TE Jimmy Graham a no-trade clause as part of his two-year, $16 million contract that includes a $6 million signing bonus.
Graham stands to make a $3 million base salary in 2020 and a $6.9 million base salary in 2021 to go along with a $100,000 workout bonus. The contract includes incentives for the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team that could push the deal higher.
It’s rare for a player to secure a no-trade clause as part of an NFL contract. Most of the players who get them are franchise quarterbacks, but it appears as though the Bears felt comfortable with their commitment to Graham to include it in the deal.
The Bears were clearly in the market for tight end help this offseason and were reportedly in the mix for Austin Hooper before agreed to a deal with the Browns. However, many were surprised at the money Chicago handed out to Graham, who is coming off of back-to-back disappointing seasons for the Packers.
Graham, 33, is a former third-round pick of the Saints back in 2010. He spent five years in New Orleans before he was traded to the Seahawks in return for C Max Unger and a first-round pick.
Graham played out the final year of his four-year, $40 million contract before agreeing to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Packers in 2018. He was set to make a $7,450,000 base salary in 2020 when he was released by Green Bay.
In 2019, Graham appeared in all 16 games for the Packers and caught 38 passes for 447 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 44 tight end out of 66 qualifying players.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
