Drew Brees has said that the New Orleans Saints would find a way to cope if Jimmy Graham were not with the team for the start of the 2014 NFL season.

The NFC South side used their franchise tag on the tight end earlier this year, but he filed a grievance against the move, claiming that he should be paid as a wide receiver after taking more snaps in that position last season.

The quarterback told USA Today: "I'd hate to not have Jimmy. I'm very confident that a deal will get done. But if it doesn't, you worry about what you do have and who you do have out there.

"Look at our numbers over the last eight years. We've had a lot of different guys in there. Jimmy's only been here four years. He's only been here half the time. We were putting up some pretty big numbers before he got here, and we've been putting up some big numbers since he's been here.

"I expect to have him, but it's just like if he gets injured. What happens if he gets hurt? You've got to roll without him. The one game he was hurt back in 2012, I think we threw for about 400 [yards]. So you find other ways to make the system work."

Graham led the Saints in receiving last year with 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns.