The New Orleans Saints were able to sign wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on Friday, giving Drew Brees another weapon on offense.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers were also after Sanders.
“Emmanuel Sanders had appealing NFC options. Sanders spoke with the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, but preferred to wind up with the New Orleans Saints, where he land a two-year, $16 million deal worth up to $19 million,” Schefter tweeted.
Before deciding to join New Orleans, ESPN’s Todd Archer said that Dallas was not willing to pay the price that Sanders asked for. Green Bay was another team that spoke to the veteran wide receiver.
Sanders ultimately chose the Saints and now they have a formidable duo at wideout with Michael Thomas. Sanders spent most of last season with the 49ers following a trade from the Broncos.
He made 10 starts with the 49ers and caught 36 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns. Sanders turned 33 years old just a few days ago and it seems that he wanted to land one last lucrative contract in free agency before retiring.
Sanders had his options but he seems to believe that he has a better chance to win another Super Bowl ring with the Saints, who earlier in the week re-signed Drew Brees to a two-year deal, giving him a shot at another Lombardi trophy.
Emmanuel Sanders has played with Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning and now he’ll get a chance to catch passes from another legendary quarterback in Drew Brees. Sanders and Brees are both near the end of their careers and it will be interesting to see what kind of chemistry they develop and if they can win another Super Bowl before all is said and done.