Graham making strong push at tight end

Falcons tight end Jaeden Graham leaps over New York Jets safety Santos Ramirez for a first down during the third quarter in a NFL preseason football game on Thursday, August 15, 2019, in Atlanta.   Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Falcons tight end Jaeden Graham leaps over New York Jets safety Santos Ramirez for a first down during the third quarter in a NFL preseason football game on Thursday, August 15, 2019, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Jaeden Graham led the team in receptions - and had a highlight monent after one of those catches - in the Falcons’ exhibition loss to the Jets last week.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder hopes to take advantage of similar opportunities moving forward as he hopes to land a roster spot at tight end.

“I’m mean, it’s just getting the opportunities to go out there and succeed and make the most of them,” said Graham, who had four catches for 55 yards in the 22-10 loss to the Jets. “Whatever opportunities I get in the games going forward, I’m going to embrace whatever the coaches have for me.”

After one catch, Graham showed his athleticism by hurdling Jets safety Santos Ramirez on his way to a first down in the third quarter. What made him jump the defender?

“I knew a (defensive back) was going to go at my legs, so I just kind of took the opportunity and jumped,” said Graham, who played collegiately at Yale and was on the Falcons’ practice squad last season. “I guess it worked out.”

The Falcons currently have four other tight ends on the roster in Austin Hooper, Luke Stocker, Logan Paulsen and Alex Gray.

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