One of the 49ers’ key free agent decisions will involve wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who they acquired in a midseason trade with the Broncos.
Sanders, 32, became an immediate difference maker on and off the field in the 49ers’ receiving corps. He caught 36 balls for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games with the 49ers, and there was a marked improvement in the 49ers’ passing attack.
If it was up to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Sanders would be back in red and gold next season.
“You can’t even describe it,” Garoppolo told reporters Wednesday during the team’s locker room clean out. “Just what E did. Coming in the way he did. Never asking for the ball, never doing too much. He was exactly what we needed on this team. That veteran presence for the younger receivers, for just everyone, myself included. Everything he did he did it with class, I couldn’t ask for a better teammate.
“I would love to have E back in every way – like I said before – all the good things he did for us. But we’ll see what happens. He’s one of a kind, love that guy.”
It’ll be interesting to see how San Francisco’s receiving corps shakes out since Deebo Samuel emerged as the team’s leading receiver throughout his rookie season. They have Sanders and Kendrick Bourne hitting free agency, and Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd due to return from injury. They have a slew of weapons and minimal salary cap maneuverability, so Sanders’ return may depend entirely on his willingness to be back in San Francisco and the market that develops for him.
Sanders said he’s still processing the Super Bowl loss and hasn’t thought about his future yet. With free agency fast approaching though, it stands to reason those decisions will start happening relatively soon.
