NEW YORK – After an offseason of debate and arbitration over the definition of his position, the New Orleans Saints and Jimmy Graham agreed to a multiple-year deal just hours before a deadline that would have forced the Pro Bowl player to play under the $7.035 million franchise tag for tight ends in 2014.

Terms of the deal haven’t been officially disclosed, but ESPN reported the contract was for four years and $40 million with $21 million guaranteed. While this would make Graham the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, one of the best to ever play that position says it’s still not enough.

“You look at the production and numbers he’s put up, even after the deal he got today, which I’m sure he’s happy about and he should be. Ten million dollars [per year],” newly retired 14-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez told For The Win Tuesday at a photo shoot for CBS’ The NFL Today, which he’ll join this September.

“If you look at the numbers and production and what he means to that team, I think he’s underpaid still. If you compare him to all the other elite receivers around the league and leading the league with 16 touchdowns, 1200 yards and 14 yards per catch. That’s an elite receiver and he should be paid like one. Just because he’s a tight end and that’s the name of his position he’s going to be paid less. I don’t think that’s fair.”

While Graham’s deal will help increase the future franchise tag value of the tight end, his designation in the position certainly had an effect on what the Saints were willing to offer him.

“He should be paid as a top five NFL offensive player non-quarterback,” Gonzalez’s co-host Boomer Esiason said. “That’s what he should be paid because that’s what he is.”

“When you see him out there and see what he does to opposing teams and how nobody can cover him, how is he not one of the best five non-quarterbacks in the league?”

Gonzalez suggests that the inequity in position value isn’t limited to tight ends versus wide receivers.

“I’ll give another example,” he said. “A guard versus a tackle. An All-Pro guard opens up a hole for his running back and protects the franchise quarterback. Is he worth less than a mediocre or average starting left tackle? How about a center?”

Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher thinks that Graham’s deal may just be the start as the position continues to become more about offensive mismatches and receiving than an extension of the offensive line.

“As his contract shows today, we’re going to start paying more and more,” Cowher said. “Unfortunately Jimmy Graham may be the pioneer and may not reap the benefits of setting the bar higher and higher.”