It’s crazy to think of Emmanuel Sanders as a veteran in the league, The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in 2010. In the third round to be exact. After Pittsburgh, he signed a free-agent contract with the Denver Broncos where he was a vital piece in 2015 when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. During the 2019 season, Emmanuel was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He was a leader amongst that young group of wide receivers. He’s signed a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints.
Emmanuel isn’t elite. However, he knows his role within the offense no matter what team he’s on. He’s a ball of energy. I’ve seen that displayed on the field for years. To be a consistent wide receiver, you must be able to have those choppy feet. Emmanuel is always moving if you watch him closely. You can tell him to run an out and up, a hitch route, a back out and up or a crossing route. He’ll do it. Perfect segue. Let’s talk about him as a route runner. He’s consistent in his abilities to break free for the football. I notice perfect concentration when he releases off the line. Emmanuel catches everything. He does it all from catching the ball in tight coverages along with breakaway speed after the catch.
What I respect about him is what he does between the hashes. He’s not the biggest guy nor is he the tallest, but he shows no fear in going over the middle of the field. Just the other day, I stated the Saints needed another weapon not only for Drew Brees to lean on, but to take the pressure off of Michael Thomas. The Saints hit the jackpot with this signing. This will make their offense scarier.
