Broncos expected to bring back Emmanuel Sanders in 2019
The Denver Broncos are expected to pick up wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders’ option and bring him back for the 2019 season.
Despite Emmanuel Sanders’ tweet in response to the idea that he should re-structure his current contract (which has just one year remaining), the Denver Broncos are expected to bring their star receiver back for the 2019 season.
So much for this mock draft with a trade for Antonio Brown.
If the Broncos are bringing back Sanders for 2019, that is a good thing for them. Sanders’ absence caused the Broncos’ offense to falter badly in the 2018 season.
According to NFL Network, the Broncos are expected to pick up Sanders’ $1.5 million contract option and bring him back this coming season.
Despite his ✌️ tweet, Emmanuel Sanders hasn’t been approached about a pay cut and the #Broncos are expected to pick up his 2019 option next month. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/FkP5PT4xzw
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 20, 2019
The great news is, the Broncos haven’t even approached Sanders about taking a pay cut or restructuring, so there’s no internal drama to worry about here. Thankfully for the Broncos, they got Sanders’ answer without even having to bring it up.
Through 12 games in the 2018 season, Sanders was on pace for one of his best yet as a member of the Broncos. At the age of 31 and coming off of a nagging ankle injury the year before, Sanders looked as quick and as explosive as ever, catching 71 passes for 868 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for a score and passing for another.
He was really a lot of fun to watch last season.
The Broncos are doing the right thing by exercising Sanders’ contract option, whenever it happens. Even if they choose to trade him later or release him later on, they will eat just under $3 million in dead money.
At least in comparison to Case Keenum, that’s a bargain.
The wide receiver market in free agency is not overflowing with talent. Some of the best names available are Golden Tate, John Brown, and Adam Humphries. Unless teams are going to make some significant roster cuts in the coming weeks (that could be the case), the Broncos are better off with Sanders anyway.
dark. Next. Top 5 TE options in free agency
Sanders is still capable of playing a major role in Denver’s offense, so in free agency, they might be more inclined to go for a complementary player, someone like John Brown who worked well with Joe Flacco in Baltimore this past season.