Should Jimmy Graham be considered a Tight End or a Wide Receiver

I will begin with my constructive, and then rebut Pro's case. Throughout, I will abbreviate tight end as TE and wide receiver as WR. ConstructiveI would like for the floor to first consider that the TE is a fairly amorphous position that carries out a wide array of roles and lines up in a wide array of positions depending on the team and system. With this in mind, I will demonstrate how the tag of TE better suits Jimmy Graham. I. Self-IdentificationThis point will be fairly self-explanatory. Jimmy Graham was classified and drafted as a TE when he came into the league [1]. On his own Twitter profile, he identifies himself as a TE [2]. This self-identification and longtime classification belies Graham's current case, demonstrating the contradiction between word and action. I would also, under this point, like to point out the discrepancy between Jimmy Graham's anatomical statistics and the standard for the WR position. Note that Jimmy Graham is 6'7', 265 lbs [3]. Among all receivers at the 2014 NFL combine, for instance, the greatest height and weight was 6'5' 240 lbs [4]. In contrast, the greatest among TEs was 6'6' 270 [5], more in line with both Graham's size and the historical description for the position [6]. II. Game UsageFirstly, taking Pro's TE definition ad arguendum, Jimmy Graham DOES line up close to the tackle on the majority of plays, if we take "close," which, while ambiguous, as around 4 yards. In this case, Graham lines up "close" to the tackle on 60% of plays [7]. This would make him a TE by Pro's definition. Moreover, Graham often initially lines up as a TE, and, then, to take advantage of matchups or to confuse the opposing defenses, motions out to a split position [8]. This would surely make Graham appear as a TE who is flexed to a wide position to take advantage of Graham's particular skill set and the defense's position. To substantiate the argument that Graham's positioning is a ploy to take advantage of his skills as a TE while matched up against an inferior defender, we must examine who matches up against Graham. On the vast, vast majority of plays, Graham is defended by either a S or a LB [9], where WRs are almost exclusively defended by CBs [9]. In fact, when defended by a CB, Graham's statistics drop considerably, causing the Saints to line him up more frequently as a TE [9]. Thus, it becomes clear that Graham lines up as a TE when 1) Analyzing the distinctions between the alignment of slot receivers and TEs, and 2) Considering Graham's skill set and matchups. RebuttalPro has two key lines of argument. The first is that hybrid positions should are cool, essentially. However, the distinction is that, with his unique blend of size, speed, blocking skill, and hands, Graham clearly fits the mold of a receiving TE [8]. He is too large to be a WR and lines up almost exclusively against defenders used against TEs. The second is that Graham lines up 67% off the offensive line. This is deceptive for the two reasons I presented above: 1) Graham actually lines up very close, if not on the line, on a majority of snaps, and 2) Graham frequently motions out of a TE set to take advantage of matchups. These bring more nuance to the over-generalized figure presented by Pro and cast serious doubt upon Graham's claim. I would also like to note that Pro's definitions of TE and WR both 1) Are incredibly ambiguous and lagging behind the increasingly complex offensive systems utilized by coaches, and 2) Negate Pro's defense of hybrid positions. I have not presented a dictionary definition of a TE; rather, I have shown a dynamic anatomical, skills-driven, and analytical approach to determining positioning, something Pro cannot match. Thank you. Sources1. . http://www.nfl.com...2. . https://twitter.com...3. . http://www.nfl.com...4. . http://www.sbnation.com...5. . http://www.sbnation.com...6. . http://football.calsci.com...7. . http://espn.go.com...8. . http://thebiglead.com...9. . http://www.nola.com...