How Will Mohamed Sanu Fit in the Patriots Offense?

The Patriots, flush off their win over the Jets in the Meadowlands 33-0 on Monday night, have made a trade to bolster their wide receiving core. They parted with a 2nd round draft pick to bring in former Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.

At first glance, the 2nd round price tag seems a bit high for Sanu but remember, the Patriots draft picks are generally later in the round and it is essentially a 3rd round draft pick. The other consideration is that Sanu isn’t a rental for this season only. He’s signed through the 2020 season and his cap hit is an affordable $6.5 million.

Last year Sanu caught 66 passes for 838 yards and four TDs. So far in 2019, he’s caught 33 passes for 313 yards and a score. With Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and the emergence of TE Austin Hooper, Sanu was becoming the 4th option in an offense that has a 1-6 record. The move makes sense for Atlanta who will be doing some rebuilding next spring.

But from a Patriots perspective, how will Sanu fit in with the Patriots offense? Quite well actually. All you really need to know is that Bill Belichick tried to trade for Sanu during the 2019 NFL Draft this spring. But Atlanta at that time had planned on making a deep playoff run.

Sanu is a 6’2, 210 possession wide receiver that has good yards-after-catch (YAC) capability. In Atlanta’s system, he played mainly in the slot because of the presence of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. But here, he has the versatility to be a movable chess piece. He can play in the slot or slide outside.

Look for Josh McDaniels to move Sanu and Edelman inside and out depending on the matchups and to create mismatches. Sanu gives them a proven wide receiver who should fit in perfectly in this offense. He’s 30 years old which means he should have plenty of good years left in the tank.

Sanu is a good and willing blocker for the running game or to support another wide receiver when they throw it elsewhere. And he’s been used on occasion like Edelman for the odd pass out of the backfield with the Falcons.

Now the Patriots depth chart at wide receiver seems much deeper, especially with 1st round pick N’Keal Harry soon able to return to the team.

Julian Edelman
Mohamed Sanu
Josh Gordon
Phillip Dorsett
N’Keal Harry (eligible to return in Week 9)
Jakobi Meyers
Gunner Olszewski
Matthew Slater

Many fans were hoping that this doesn’t mean the end of Jakobi Meyers in the offense. I don’t believe that to be the case. Meyers is showing that he is gaining and earning Brady’s trust in the passing game. If anyone loses snaps it may be Olszewski.

He’s still quite raw in the passing game although he’s working hard and has had some receptions. I found it curious last night that Edelman returned the free-kick, and if they try to slide Olszewski onto the practice squad, they may use Dorsett and Bolden to return kicks and punts. Would he make it to the PS? I’d say no right now, but stranger things have happened.

But with two bigger guys with Gordon and Sanu, with Harry another to return soon to go along with Edelman, Dorsett, and Meyers, all of a sudden the WR position looks like a position of strength.

This was a very solid move by the team and have Sanu, Edelman, Meyers, and Olszewski locked up for the next couple of seasons. Now Sanu just needs to learn the playbook

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About Steve Balestrieri

A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

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