RFA Emmanuel Sanders visits Pats 3/16; signs offer sheet 4/10, sheet matched 4/14

[voluntarysaftey]

I suspect that Sanders and the Pats already have a handshake agreement about a multi-year deal but the one year initial offer makes things more difficult for Pitt in the short term.

No way there's a handshake for a multiyear deal. The Patriots would have no reason to believe a guy they barely know will honor the handshake. And Sanders would be pretty dumb to give up free agency because of a handshake a year prior.
Or what if Sanders sucks; would the Patriots still honor the handshake?

 

[Miguel]

Not sure if someone mentioned this, but the steelers have removed sanders from their depth chart. Maybe they are moving on?

Pittsburgh Steelers | Depth Chart

The other RFAs (Steve McLendon and Isaac Redman) are also not listed so they may not be listing their RFAs.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Do NFL rules allow the Pats to sign him to a one year deal now, then restructure to a multi-year deal in the same offseason?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Thread title misleading, I thought Sanders signed a chicken tender when I read that. If possible can one of the mods put (not chicken) in parentheses at the end? Thanks

 

[lillloyd]

The rumor is that it's 1 year 4 million. Steelers won't be able to match that. Evenif they could, why pay someone 4 million per 1 year, only to see them become an UFA next year?

To turn this around, I guess this is what puzzles me about how the Patriots approached this--why would someone pay 4 million per 1 year, only to see them become a UFA next year, and surrender a 3rd round pick for the right to do this? Particularly in a year when the Pats have so few picks?

It seems clear to me that the Pats aren't 100% sold on Sanders, or else they'd set the contract duration longer. That's a fine strategy for UFAs, but again we're talking about an RFA who requires a relatively high draft pick compensation.

I guess that's the crux of it for me, why sign an RFA with the associated draft pick cost, if you're not really sold on the guy? If you're looking for a one-year rental, there should be other vets out there who are UFAs who can fit the bill and provide comparable production. Maybe it's just Sanders is younger and the Pats think he is about to break out...but again if they believe that, why only the one year offer?

The Pats FO is arguably the best in the league and 99 times out of 100 they nail it, so who am I to argue....But this offer (plus the Welker thing before this) has me scratching my head a bit.

Just my $.02

 

[Patsgofor4]

No way there's a handshake for a multiyear deal. The Patriots would have no reason to believe a guy they barely know will honor the handshake. And Sanders would be pretty dumb to give up free agency because of a handshake a year prior.
Or what if Sanders sucks; would the Patriots still honor the handshake?

I meant converting to a multi-year deal later THIS offseason....may not be allowed, however.

 

[JackBauer]

I'd still call CB and DE desperate needs.

Depending on Dennard's sentence, I disagree that CB is a "desperate" need.

 

[JackBauer]

It seems clear to me that the Pats aren't 100% sold on Sanders, or else they'd set the contract duration longer.

If the Patriots aren't 100% sold on Sanders, what are they doing signing him to an offer sheet?

 

[Miguel]

Miguel, I thought that teams must have enough cap room to sign their draft picks by the time of the draft? Not true?

Club that drafts a player shall be deemed to have automatically
tendered the player a four-year NFL Player Contract for the Minimum
Active/Inactive List Salary for such League Years. The NFL or the Club shall provide the player with notice of such Required Tender before or immediately following the Draft.


Since the Steelers have over 60 players on their roster and because of the top 51 rule all of the tenders to the Steelers' draft picks will have no immediate impact on the Steelers' cap. They can afford to wait until June 2nd to sign their draft picks.

 

[Triumph]

Here's my (Steelers' fan) perspective: while it's not an easy decision, I ultimately hope the Steelers do NOT match, given the circumstances.

I'm a bit surprised that NE is willing to part with a 3rd rounder for potentially a one-year rental. (I can understand a "win-now" mentality for Brady, but that doesn't gel with the Welker/Amendola swap...I still don't understand why that went down the way it did?)

Its not a 1 year lease if NE franchises Sanders in 2014 for a trade recouping their 3rd round pick assuming a new contract cannot be consummated.

 

[Deus Irae]

If the Patriots aren't 100% sold on Sanders, what are they doing signing him to an offer sheet?

That's a very good question. Also, given that both Amendola and Sanders NFL careers have had them as slot WRs who bounce outside, and not outside receivers who can play the slot, this also adds to the question of why the Patriots are doing this. The discussions in Gillette must have been pretty interesting.

 

[Triumph]

Depending on Dennard's sentence, I disagree that CB is a "desperate" need.

Thats because youre a McCourty and Arrington lover.

 

[lillloyd]

Re: Pats submit offer sheet for Emmanuel Sanders

I'd ague that it's because WRs who are slender, finesse, and get by on straight away speed are not a good fit in NE. He's not someone who can go over the middle with good lateral movement. He's not someone who is physically freakish enough to fight for the jumpball either (i.e. Moss). He's a finesse player. He'd thrive in a timing based offense. Think Peyton Manning's Colts/Broncos. That's a style of attack that thrives on one fixed route where the receiver can run un-impeded. The Patriots? Way too many post-snap reads for recievers and changes of direction; which favors guys with good lateral movement.

I'd point to everyone from Joey Galloway to Chad Jackson and Bethel Johnson as players within the same general skill set; all epic draft/fa busts. Ocho is somewhat similar; never had as much raw speed though.

I think Sanders is a completely different player than the ones mentioned above.

He has good (not great) straight-line speed, enough to get deep, but not Mike Wallace-type speed. But he has good "quicks" too and can get separation. He's a good route-runner. TBH he's been more valuable to us as a move-the-chains WR on 3rd down than an explosive deep option...but Wallace ran most of the go routes for Pitt, for obvious reasons.

I wouldn't describe him as "finesse" either--he's a good blocking WR FWIW. That said, he's not physically imposing, and he did have some issues with ball security last year. And prior to last year he had a tough time staying on the field.

 

[Deus Irae]

Its not a 1 year lease if NE franchises Sanders in 2014 for a trade recouping their 3rd round pick assuming a new contract cannot be consummated.

Who's going to pay a 3rd round pick [highlight]plus[/highlight] the franchise value for a guy who's been WR3 on his team and who'll now likely be option number 4 or 5 on the Patriots?

 

[TruthSeeker]

The rumor is that it's 1 year 4 million. Steelers won't be able to match that. Evenif they could, why pay someone 4 million per 1 year, only to see them become an UFA next year?

If that's the deal, 1 year at 4 mill, then Sanders must have some incriminating pics of Belichick in a tutu or something. Horrible move.

 

[JackBauer]

Thats because youre a McCourty and Arrington lover.

You're wrong, once again, like always.

Everyone who has read your posts on McCourty knows you're a complete joke, and if I'm an Arrington lover, maybe you should back that up with some quotes.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Who's going to pay a 3rd round pick [highlight]plus[/highlight] the franchise value for a guy who's been WR3 on his team and who'll now likely be option number 4 or 5 on the Patriots?

Do you think he has the potential to be a number 1 WR?

 

[JackBauer]

That's a very good question. Also, given that both Amendola and Sanders NFL careers have had them as slot WRs who bounce outside, and not outside receivers who can play the slot, this also adds to the question of why the Patriots are doing this. The discussions in Gillette must have been pretty interesting.

Just to be clear: Assuming the Patriots select a big body wideout in the draft, I like this move. I think Sanders is undervalued and could end up doing very well here. I'm just disputing the notion that the contract is an indication that they're not sold on him. Wouldn't really make much sense.

 

[Nunchucks]

Looking at his combine numbers, Sanders is definitely very quick with very good speed with a 4.41 40 time. He has long arms for his 5'11 height and is actually quicker than Wallace in the 3 cone drill. My only concern with Sanders is his weight, which is a light 186 lbs. Maybe he has put on weight since then, but really that is light for an outside WR.

 

[chasa]

Who's going to pay a 3rd round pick [highlight]plus[/highlight] the franchise value for a guy who's been WR3 on his team and who'll now likely be option number 4 or 5 on the Patriots?

seems like just 3 years ago miles austin was 4th or 5th on the cowboys depth chart before an injury let him play and he became the cowboys top reciever.

Sanders has been sitting behind antonio brown(just got a $40 million dollar deal a year ago) and mike wallace(just got 11+ a year from the phins) not to mention Bens binky heath miller.

Sanders has been stuck behind talent, and this is his chance to come to a team that can play to his strengths a bit, and doesn't currently have any starters blocking him from playing.