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Denver Broncos: Why an Antonio Brown trade makes sense

By Sayre Bedinger

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 23: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 23: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 23, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #10 of the Denver Broncos talks with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 and wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers as players warm up before a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

3. The Emmanuel Sanders factor

There are two factors at play with Emmanuel Sanders here.

The first factor is Sanders’ health. When Sanders was hurt in practice, the Broncos were preparing to make a playoff run. His injury essentially killed the offense.

Sanders was the Broncos’ best offensive players this season not named Phillip Lindsay and was perhaps having the best season of his career in Denver prior to the injury.

If Sanders is unable to return to the field by the start of the 2019 season, first of all, it puts his roster spot in jeopardy. Second of all, it means the Broncos need to potentially look to someone who could be readily available.

Whether the Broncos would make the move for Brown with or without Sanders on the roster is irrelevant to me, though selfishly I would prefer to have them both. Sanders and Brown could play inside or outside while the Broncos bring along Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton for another year.

Sanders has just one more year on his contract in Denver, so even if the team decided to watch everything play out by trading for Brown and keeping Sanders, they would go into 2020 with Brown, Sutton, and Hamilton under contract for another year.

Sanders and Brown played together before in Pittsburgh, and they would give the Broncos a heck of a duo along with their young studs in Sutton and Hamilton behind them.

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