This is going to seem like a bit of deja vu. For the second year in a row, the Denver Broncos have chosen to part ways with their No. 1 wide receiver.
On Tuesday, the Broncos made a move ahead of the league’s trading deadline, shipping Emmanuel Sanders to the San Francisco 49ers along with a fifth-round pick in exchange for a third and fourth-round pick in next year’s draft.
Last year, the team did the same with Demaryius Thomas. That move made sense for several reasons and — as much as fans don’t like it — this one makes sense, too. Here’s why.
1. Sanders is 32 years old
Many people feel like they are in the prime of their lives and their working careers at 32 years old, but for a wide receiver at the professional level, it’s almost always on the backside of a career.
Sanders turned 32 back in March and though he is still producing at a solid level, his best years could easily be behind him.
Whether the Broncos are willing to admit it or not, the team is rebuilding and most rebuilding projects are free of players north of 30 years old.
2. He wanted out
At the end of the day, Sanders wanted out of Denver. It seems that there was plenty going on behind the scenes between the player and the team and team president John Elway basically confirmed as much.
It appears something happened during the win over the Tennessee Titans in which the Broncos won 16-0, but Sanders did not play in the second half of that game. Did he refuse to go back in during the second half? That’s speculation, but it’s also entirely possible.
Either way, he wanted out of Denver and it seems the Broncos were fed up with him too.
3. His contract
Perhaps the reason that makes the most sense is that Sanders was scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season. Guess what? He likely was not going to re-sign with the Broncos.
Remember, he did request a trade.
Much like with Thomas last year, the Broncos needed to cut their losses and get something, anything for a player that was almost certainly not coming back anyway.
4. It’s a solid gesture
The Broncos could have traded Sanders anywhere. The team could have shown a real petty side and honored his request to be traded and shipped him to Washington or Cincinnati.
Instead, Elway worked a deal with John Lynch, a former Broncos player, and sent Sanders to a place where he’ll have a chance to have a deep postseason run as the 49ers are the only undefeated team left in the NFC.
Sending Sanders to a contender was a way of thanking him for his many years of quality service.
