Jimmy Graham has been ruled a tight end.
ESPN reports that arbitrator Stephen Burbank denied Graham's request to officially be declared a wide receiver under the NFL's franchise-tag rules.
Graham tried to have himself declared a wide receiver with his argument being that he lined up in the slot or out wide in two-thirds of the Saints snaps last year. The team and the NFL Management Council argued that the tight end position has historically involved both splitting out wide as an extra receiver or staying in as an extra blocker. Burbank sided with the team.
Graham and the NFL Players Association have 10 days in which to appeal the decision.
Meanwhile the Saints will not have to increase the one-year $7.053 million offer to Graham. Being declared a wide receiver would have garnered an additional $5 million dollar offer.
The two sides can now focus on signing Graham to a long-term deal. The deadline for signing franchise players is July 15.
Graham is likely to become the highest paid tight end in NFL history. He has been one of the most prolific and consistent players over the last few seasons. He had 86 receptions for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns last season alone.
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