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

[Ozymandias]

I'm not sure if I like this move, for several reasons:

1) This draft is incredibly deep with a lot of playmakers of all sizes. If the Pats trade out of the 1st round (pretty much a certainty if Pitt doesn't match), I hope they still use a high pick on a WR. So many talented receivers available.

2) I know what people are going to say, they rather depend on a veteran than a rookie trying to learn the system and be productive. Well, it's been proven that even Hall Of Fame WR's (Ocho) couldn't learn our system and be productive. So who's to say Sanders could do any better learning the system, and be more productive, than any of the receivers available in the draft ? Gronkowski and Hernandez had no problems learning the system and being productive as rookies.

3) Sanders never was an incredibly productive receiver, with his best season being last season. 44 catches and ONE TD. Averages 31 catches and 1.7 td's a season. Why all the hype and excitement, and he's injury prone, I don't really get it. Plus, with it being for only 1 year, if he has a huge year, no guarantees he signs an extension next season.

I really don't find this to be a smart move. Really don't like it. I hope Pitt matches, but I doubt they do, because they realize that a 3rd round pick for a receiver that is injury prone and really isn't a great player, is a good smart financial move for them. They could probably get a better receiver with that 3rd round pick.

1. There's a risk involved no doubt but third rounders are just as risky as this move right here. The draft is seemingly deep on paper, but we don't know how these players will react to being an NFL WR and grind that goes along with it. At least Sanders has shown over the past three seasons that he can be NFL WR, by making a name for himself, having a role and an impact on a prestigious organization in the Steelers including being a part of winning division titles with them, going to the playoffs almost every season he's been there and a run to the super bowl. All these things matter.

2. Along with most of the WRs that flamed out here, Ochocinco's not a HOF receiver. He was productive during his years with the Bengals but he will never have a bust in Canton, ever. Secondly, he mostly freelanced with Cincy and never really understand the Patriots' complex scheme. Chad clearly struggled with New England's option route concepts.

Sanders might have that problem or he may not. The same goes for any potential rookie. There's an unknown involved no matter what or whom the player is. Someone guys get it, some don't. But as organization you have to put those players in the best position to succeed. Sanders has at least shown he can play at the NFL level for the past 4 seasons without any character concerns. That has to count for something, right?

3. He was often times the fourth option behind Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Heath Miller during his tenure with the Steelers. Those numbers are what you would expect from a player in that situation. Fortunately, he would also be in a similar situation with the Patriots as the fourth option behind Rob, Aaron, and Danny. So it would be something he's familiar with.

If the contract's numbers are to be expected, in my view, they would be essentially paying him what they would've given to Brandon Lloyd had he not failed to live up to expectations from an impact standpoint. So he's basically Lloyd's replacement in a role sense. At this stage in their careers Sanders is far more versatile than Lloyd since he can play all three receiver positions and is faster, more explosive and has special teams value. Sanders from impact perspective should be an upgrade over what Brandon brought to the team as a starting outside receiver.

I think this is the right decision to make because as stated earlier, the Patriots may not envision any pick in the third round as being more polished and NFL-ready than already NFL WR is in Sanders.

 

[Triumph]

Steelers expected to match.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

[JackBauer]

Steelers expected to match.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

I'll need more than Ed Werder's say-so to believe that.

 

[Nunchucks]

There is a distinct possibility that the WR class coming out this year is being overhyped.

This happens quite often.

I would prefer a big physical WR who can run, perhaps that player does not exist where the patriots draft?

Either way, the signing of Sanders pretty much ends any speculation that the Patriots will draft a WR early.

That means either a trade down from the first round or the more drafting for defense.

 

[Miguel]

BTW- note to the mods, this topic deserves its own thread and should be separated at the point where it was reported that the offer sheet was signed.

I do not know if this is possible to do.

 

[Nunchucks]

Just as a note, Rothlesberger only threw for 3200 yards last year.

 

[midwestpatsfan]

Are we all under the agreement that the Patriots can indeed extend his contract right away as long as the money in the initial offer sheet does not decrease?

So, the one year contract is more to force the Steelers to have the money available now and not allow them to back load a contract, correct?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I don't like this signing. Giving up a third rounder for a one-year rental is risky as hell, even if you do believe that you can re-sign him. I'd be (cautiously) for it, though, if it was for a player with more production and less injury history in his young career than Sanders has. Best case scenario is that he pulls a Welker, which is great right up until we have to re-sign him next offseason and pay him a bunch of money. For that alone, I would have felt better about a 3-4 year deal that makes it possible for the Pats to cut him and escape with minimal damage to the cap after 1-2 years.

Remember that in 2003 the Pats "gave up" a 3rd round pick to rent a NT for the year. Ted Washington's last season shored up a pathetic run D from 2002 and won a Lombardi. This season our WR corps is desperately in need of someone who can force defenses not to bunch up the short/medium mid field. Sanders could well be that guy. If he is not, better to have the one year deal.

IF we lose him next year, think 3rd round comp pick all other things being equal.

Tag and trade is infeasible as no club would spend the huge WR cap space needed to first obtain him before redoing a long term deal. He's not a Fitzgerald level guy.

 

[DarrylS]

Good move, although I wish it was for longer.. suspect if he fits into our O, then something else will happen for a longer term..

 

[JackBauer]

Either way, the signing of Sanders pretty much ends any speculation that the Patriots will draft a WR early.

That means either a trade down from the first round or the more drafting for defense.

I don't know if 29 is your narrow definition of early, but even if they do trade back I expect another WR to be taken in the 2nd or 3rd.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

After hearing it's just for one year I'm not so sure I like this, especially if we're dropping $4M on him (saw that on a post from previous page). I'd figure if you're giving up a 3rd it should be more than a one year rental. And if he does have a good year it'll be hard to keep him around.

 

[TruthSeeker]

We're talking about two distinct issues: they can't do a Brady-like restructure to push cap hits into 2014, but that wording doesn't seem to prohibit them from simply tacking on more years at the end.

Exactly what I was thinking. The Patriots almost always extend contracts, not redo them. (They also convert salary into signing bonus as all teams do to play with the cap hits.) I'm not aware of a limitation to extend a contract in this circumstance.

 

[Miguel]

Gotta say, merging the new news on this with the 4,000 page old thread was a bad idea. Should have locked the old one down and stuck with the new one imo.

In retrospect, that is what I should have done. I forgot about the lock down process. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. I do not know if it is possible to unmerge threads.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Historically I've found this forum to err on the side of merging too much rather than not enough.

Personally it's a policy I loathe but I have managed to survive this long and they haven't changed their policy despite people regularly complaining so I think we've just all got to accept this is the way it will be.

Long live merges! Keep it up, mods.

 

[Rob0729]

If the Steelers do match the offer, this will be like the fourth or fifth time the Pats have have offered a Steelers' player to an offer sheet and the Steelers have matched over the years.

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

I wouldn't get too excited. I'd bet a week's pay the Steeler's match.

 

[Shockt327]

If the Steelers do match the offer, this will be like the fourth or fifth time the Pats have have offered a Steelers' player to an offer sheet and the Steelers have matched over the years.

Who were the others?

 

[Ozymandias]

Edit: Already posted.

 

[DW Toys]

Re: Pats submit offer sheet for Emmanuel Sanders

Excellent thought. Good post.
Here is another tid bit of intrigue. The League has taken a big P.R. hit on the fact that the RFA market is now considered taboo by the Teams. It was dying on the vine. In the back of my mind, one might wonder if the League is cheerleading this move?

I think the Pats wanted Deion Branch II (Sanders)and they wanted to test the rest of the FA pool to dig anyone else out. After The Kelly signing, the next day we get the Sanders offer. Sanders and Branch have almost the same measurables with Sanders being taller and Branch a few pounds heavier.

With this signing if it goes through, it mostly precludes the Pats of going higher round on a Draft WR. And that is a good thing as we have all noted.

It Sanders works, the Pats had a darned good free agent season:

They resigned or resigned:
04/10/2013 Signed RFA E.Sanders WR to offer sheet
04/10/2013 Signed free agent DT Tommy Kelly
03/28/2013 Signed free agent WR Michael Jenkins
03/26/2013 Re-signed unrestricted free agent tackle Sebastian Vollmer
03/20/2013 Re-signed unrestricted free agents CB Marquice Cole and LB Niko Koutouvides.
03/18/2013 Signed free agent OT Will Svitek.
03/16/2013 Re-signed CB Aqib Talib and CB Kyle Arrington; Signed free agent S Adrian Wilson.
03/15/2013 Signed free agent WR Donald Jones.
03/14/2013 Signed free agent RB Leon Washington
03/14/2013 Signed WR Danny Amendola as an unrestricted free agent.
02/19/2013 Signed DL Jason Vega
02/01/2013 Signed DL Armond Armstead.

I think they do two more moves before the Draft and resign Julian Edelman and John Abraham and we are at CAP pending any Fenene relief.

A WR is not a dire need. Now I will suspect BB will go into trade down mode which is fun time for Bill and get a perhaps a DE like Margus Hunt, an OLB with coverage skills like a Collins, a later round WR and a developmental Safety.

The effects of losing our third round pick? The wild card is Mallett. OK We lose our third rounder for Sanders. It makes all the sense in the world to trade Mallett now. His measurables match or near Smith with 100 less passes in his last year in the SEC. He has had O'Brien, McDaniel and Brady for teachers and a few years of actual NFL camp. He might be the best QB if you include him in this class this year.

Why would he stay past 2013 when he is a FA in 2014? He was picked just for this as a future trade chip. The Pats re-upped with Brady for another 3.

The Browns are still the option I think. Campbell is not a starter nor is Weeden. They dumped McCoy. Browns and Pats swap picks in round one and throw in a needed RB to the Browns like a Bolden to back up to Richardson, and to sweeten the pot. And the deal is done. The Browns needed a QB and RB and don't have a two. Smart move by Lombardi.

Watch the fun begin if BB gets that #6 pick and opens up the store.

DW Toys

And they just did sign Edelman. If the offer does not work, perhaps a ploy to get Edelman to resign? Or a Trade of a three and a seventh to get it done as another idea like the Pats and Miami did similar to Welker.

But..........Cousins if The Steelers weren't prepared to lose Sanders they should have given him an extension or upped his ask. A third rounder is not a heartbreaking give-up for a proven young WR. The Steelers knew all along what the Pats were up to. And there is a longer term deal on the table for Sanders here, but why show your cards.

They have also had weeks to get an extension done and he is UFA in 2014.
DW Toys

 

[Triumph]

Analysis: Emmanuel Sanders offer - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston