Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
After being cut by the New Orleans Saints, these three teams could sign Emmanuel Sanders.
With salary cap issues more than any other team this offseason, the New Orleans Saints are facing a lot of tough decisions. Amid contract restructures and outright cuts to trim cap dollars, they’ve now released wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The move will save the Saints $4 million, with $6 million in dead money.
Sanders, with Michael Thomas missing most of the season, was the Saints leading wide receiver last year with 61 receptions for 726 yards and five touchdowns. He’ll turn 34 next week, on the day the new league year starts (Mar. 17), but he’s clearly still a useful player.
Even with the reduced salary cap and a still deep free agent class of wide receivers, Sanders shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a new team. He’s not (and never was) a No. 1 wide receiver, but he’s certainly valuable as a veteran WR2/WR3 type.
As he hits the market, these three teams make sense for Sanders.
NFL free agency: possible landing spots for Emmanuel Sanders
3. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers acquired Sanders from the Broncos in 2019, and he became the rare player to play 17 games in a season with the way bye weeks hit. In 10 games for the 49ers, he had 36 catches for 502 yards and three touchdowns.
Upon news of Sanders’ release by the Saints Wednesday morning, ESPN 49ers’ reporter Nick Wagoner pointed to a possible reunion.
The 49ers have nearly $24 million in cap space right now, so they’ll be able to make a good offer to Sanders if they want to.