Wisconsin native, former Cowboys quarterback and current CBS color analyst Tony Romo recently turned the on the spigot of preseason enthusiasm for Packers fans when he announced that the Jimmy Graham signing was a big deal.

“People don’t understand,” Romo told Peter Jackel of the Journal Times. “You’re going to see old-school Jimmy Graham. With him paired with Aaron Rodgers, you’re going to see a little different animal. In the red zone, that will be almost unstoppable.”

The initial ho-hum reaction to Graham the free agent – and then Graham the new Packers’ signing – was predicated upon two factors. First, Graham is 31 years old and will turn 32 this season. Second, it’s been awhile since the league has experienced the Jimmy Graham of old.

At his apex in 2013, Graham caught 86 passes for over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns, good for 14.1 yards per catch.

Graham came close to eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards two seasons ago in 2016 – his best season in Seattle – but, by and large, his production has been established through the red zone.

The argument for the Packers signing Graham is that he was under utilized in Seattle, forced to play too much in-line as a traditional tight end. New Orleans used him primarily as a wide receiver, to the extent that he tried to argue he was a receiver for contractual reasons.

Romo sees Graham as a red zone nightmare, someone who will probably be used closer to how he was under Sean Payton in New Orleans than Pete Carroll in Seattle.

“I think you’ll see them treat him as a single receiver. You’ll almost play a two-tight-end set, where one tight end will be in,” Romo said. “You’re going to run the ball to the right and, if the safety is not there, they’re going to throw the ball to Jimmy Graham. If the safety is there, they’re just going to run the football… It’s going to be real simple in the red zone. That’s a big deal.”

Under Rodgers, the Packers have already been one of the most efficient teams in the red zone. Graham should only help. He should add more stress the opposing defenses, force more one-on-one matches between either himself or the team’s de facto No. 1 receiver, Davante Adams.

Graham may not run the 4.56 40-yard dash he ran coming out of college, but going through his prime years (2013-2014), Graham’s game was really about how he exploited his 6-7 frame against smaller cornerbacks.

If Graham and Rodgers can connect, i.e. Graham gains a feel for the soft spots in zone, ball placement during one-on-ones, and route improvisations during the scramble drill, this Rodgers-Graham combination could be one for the books.

Here is a sample of what Graham has done throughout the years and can do this year in Green Bay.

1. Saints vs. Bills

Graham finds some space on a five-yard out and sneaks upfield for the score. One facet of Graham’s game that continually shows up is how tough he is to bring down once he gets a head of steam going. Graham shows excellent short-area quickness to turn upfield for the score.

2. Saints vs. Buccaneers

File this clip under the “always open” folder. The coverage isn’t bad by NFL standards here, but a beautiful ball from Brees catches Graham in stride for a touchdown. Graham can expect to the same type of accuracy from his new quarterback.

3. Saints vs. Browns

One on one against Joe Haden (during Haden’s prime) illustrates how tough Graham is as a red zone threat. The cornerback has to defend the high fade and the back shoulder. When in concert with his quarterback, Graham will be almost unstoppable against most corners one-on-one. This is probably what Romo was referring to.

4. Saints vs. Falcons

The defender bites in zone and gets beat over the top. Graham may not have this speed, but a play like this simply isn’t possible with Martellus Bennett or Richard Rodgers last year. Graham is fast enough to make the corner pay for biting on the out, carrying his defender into pay dirt.

5. Seahawks vs. Rams

Here is the prototypical “did you know Jimmy Graham played basketball?” play. Matched up one-on-one against the corner, Graham floats into the end zone, set up for a jump ball. He boxes out the defender, Wilson throws high and wide and Graham snags it for a score.

6. Seahawks vs. Texans

Graham gets behind the linebacker, splits the zone, the safety feels the deep threat from the slot receiver, and Graham moves freely into the end zone. Pitch and catch.

7. Saints vs. Jets

Another out-and-up. The ball is under thrown, but Graham carries his defender five yards en route to the score.

8. Seahawks vs. Eagles

Up against last season’s Super Bowl champions, Graham gets a little space on a rub from the outside receiver. Eagles’ defender Malcolm Jenkins maintains good leverage but good ball placement from Wilson allows Graham to get his feet inbounds for the score.