Steelers GM hints WR Emmanuel Sanders will hit free agency
By Mike Dyce
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is coming off the best season of his short four-year career. He set career highs catching 67 passes for 740 yards and six touchdowns.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert won’t try to resign Sanders before free agency begins, letting him hit the open market.
“Emmanuel came back and had a nice year for us, and we were happy to have him,” Colbert said this morning at the combine, via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “Where he goes in free agency and what his market is, we don’t know at this point, but he certainly performed for us last year. And we’ll see where it is in the future.”
The New England Patriots could be expected to pounce if he does. Wide receiver was a position of weakness for them and adding a quality target like Emmanuel Sanders for quarterback Tom Brady would be a big improvement. Last year Sanders signed an offer sheet with the Patriots, but remained with the Steelers when they matched it.