NFL free agency 2018: Green Bay Packers to sign TE Jimmy Graham, release WR Jordy Nelson

The NFC North is having themselves a pretty eventful Tuesday. First, the Bears agreed to terms with receiver Allen Robinson in the earliest hours of the morning. Later, they would add tight end Trey Burton and now they appear to be closing in on depth receiver Taylor Gabriel.

Then the Minnesota Vikings took the stage and made the move everyone was expecting them to, agreeing to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins to a three-year, all-guaranteed deal.

Now it’s time for the Green Bay Packers to make a move, and make a move they sure did:

Adding Jimmy Graham is a move that obviously resembles the Packers’ signing of Martellus Bennett last year. Bennett didn’t even last one season in his three-year deal, as the Packers cut due to an injury dispute.

However, there are a few things that makes this situation a little different. In five of eight seasons, Graham has totaled at least 800 receiving yards. Bennett has only done it once. Bennett has 30 career touchdowns. Graham has four different seasons in which he pulled in at least 10 scores.

But Graham is 31 years old and is coming off a season in which he put up the lowest yards per reception of his career (9.1). While he still represents a big physical mismatch, he isn’t quite the athletic phenom that he used to be.

Perhaps just as notable, the Packers released veteran receiver Jordy Nelson:

So the offenses of the Lions’ NFC North opponents could look quite different in 2018. Some would argue it has a lot more dangerous weapons already, but Darius Slay is not afraid: