I can't speak for anyone else, but I for one am not bashing Sanders at all. He's a fine player, and fabulous depth as the #4 safety. Depth which we would quickly appreciate if any of the other 3 guys ahead of him get injured.
To my mind, however, he will remain the #4 safety as long as Meriweather, McGowan and Chung are healthy and on the roster. And the question is simply whether that justifies a $3M salary, or whether we could use that money better in other ways - resigning Vince Wilfork, Mankins, or Bodden for example. I'd rather keep Leigh Bodden, for example, and pair him with Butler at CB and have Lockett as our #4 safety than keep Sanders and lose Bodden. JMHO. Sanders' salary might be the difference of making a competitive vs. a non-competitive offer. Plus we could probably get something for Sanders in trade.