Falcons trade Mohamed Sanu to Patriots for 2nd-round draft pick

Another trade: Falcons are sending WR Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots in exchange for a second-round pick, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2019

It might not be too early to suggest the 1-6 Falcons are now sellers on the market. The first to go? Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, whom the team traded to the New England Patriots Tuesday in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Sanu, a third-round pick of the Bengals in 2012, has 33 catches for 313 yards and a touchdown this season. Sanu signed a five-year, $32 million contract with the Falcons in free agency before the 2016 season.

The Patriots, starved for help at the wide receiver position outside of Julian Edelman, have been hampered by injuries among their receivers. Edelman, Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsey were all on the injury report leading into the team’s 33-0 drubbing of the Jets on Monday.

Patriots needed more offensive help, period. They had been trying to trade for Mohamed Sanu since before the 2019 draft. As Atlanta’s season continued to go south, Falcons began looking out long term while Patriots are upgrading for short term.

Sanu for a 2.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2019

Schefter also reported the team had been trying to get Sanu since before the 2019 draft. With the Falcons’ season spinning quickly out of control, adding another pick in what could be a franchise facing a rebuild makes sense.