The Steelers have struggled mightily on offense this year. Should they consider trading for former Pittsburgh wide receiver, Emmanuel Sanders?
The NFL trade deadline is less than 10 days away, and writers are getting in their finals thoughts. Here’s one for you: Should the Steelers consider trading for former Pittsburgh wide receiver, Emmanuel Sanders?
Recently, FanSided reporter Matt Verderame said he believed Emmanuel Sanders should be on the trade block:
Would have to imagine the #Broncos look to trade Chris Harris and Emmanuel Sanders. Both are UFAs after this season with value. Denver isn't going anywhere. Move on and get compensation.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) October 18, 2019
Also, it's time to bench Garret Bolles. Long overdue.
The thought of Pittsburgh acquiring their former receiver is farfetched, I know. But before you brush this off, let me explain why this wouldn’t be a bad move for both parties involved.
For starters, the Broncos are dead last in their division and have managed to accumulate 5 losses on the season already. Joe Flacco clearly isn’t the answer for the Broncos (which we all knew), and Sanders isn’t happy.
Emmanuel Sanders has four years of experience on the Steelers, and the two-time Pro Bowler was part of a championship Denver Broncos team.
Currently, the Steelers receivers are struggling in a big way (much of this is likely due to the fact that they are playing with backup quarterbacks). Regardless, Pittsburgh needs to start finding a way to move the ball on offense.
JuJu Smith-Schuster has been unspectacular so far this season and could benefit from a shiftier router runner across from him. James Washington and Dionte Johnson each show promise, but the Steelers could use a veteran presence and an immediate fix at the position.
Donte Moncrief, Ryan Switzer, and Johnny Holton are all bottom-of-the-barrel players who haven’t done much of anything to help this football team in 2019. Pittsburgh’s receivers at the bottom of their roster are in desperate need of an overhaul.
Though Emmanuel Sanders is now 32 years old, this actually isn’t a bad thing for the Steelers. Being an older receiver in a contract year means that his asking price should go way down when it comes to a trade.
Denver may even be willing to deal Sanders in a player-swap trade (say, Artie Burns, for instance). Burns is still just 24 years old, and Denver has had significant problems with starting cornerback Issac Yiadom this year. Yiadom has just a 42.5 overall grade on the season from Pro Football Focus.
Whatever the Broncos are interested in from Pittsburgh, the asking price shouldn’t be much for a 32-year old receiver in a contract year. However, Sanders is a savvy route runner and a smart football player. He could be the type of receiver the Steelers need to kickstart things on offense this year.