Denver Broncos: Possible cap casualties ahead of 2019 free agency

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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #10 of the Denver Broncos stands on the field as players warm up before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Emmanuel Sanders, WR

2018 cap hit: $12,937,500
2018 dead money: 2,687,500 ($10,250,000 cap savings)

The idea of cutting or trading Emmanuel Sanders is a two-sided coin.

On one side, there’s the reality that Denver’s offense stunk without him in the lineup each of the last two seasons. Yes, it stunk regardless if Sanders was in the lineup, but at least with him out on the field, the offense had a fighting chance.

They were utterly pathetic without him, even when Demaryius Thomas was on the team.

On the other hand, Sanders has struggled in back-to-back seasons with injuries (ankle in 2017, Achilles in 2018) and is going to be 32 in March.

Can the Broncos — who would probably love to have Sanders back at a reduced cost — figure out a way to keep Sanders without paying so much money for his services?

It’s hard to fathom them not taking the $10 million in savings via trade or release here, similar to the situation they were looking at last year with Aqib Talib.

My hope is that the Broncos and Sanders come to an agreement on a contract extension that substantially lowers his cap hit in 2019. My gut feeling is that they trade him for a mid-round pick. We’ll see which happens, but there will be enough demand for his services that the Broncos could very easily trade Sanders this offseason.

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