5 players the Patriots should sign for Tom Brady

2. Emmanuel Sanders

The 49ers came up short in last year’s Super Bowl, but Emmanuel Sanders was a huge reason why San Francisco made it to the penultimate game of the season. He isn’t going to interest a lot of teams due to his advanced age, but he’s still got enough gas in the tank to help Brady in 2020.

In many respects, Sanders is a more accomplished version of Anderson. He will be 33-years-old next season, but age hasn’t really taken a measurable effect on his skills in recent years. A one or two-year deal that would coincide with Brady’s new contract could really pay off for New England.

Sanders is also at the point in his career where he’s likely to only consider offers from legitimate Super Bowl contenders. That should help New England’s chances of landing him. Money will be a factor in his free agency, but it may not be the player’s top priority. That’s huge for a team with little financial flexibility.

Sanders is a perfect example of a free agent that only fits a limited number of NFL teams. His age prevents him from being a value signing for lots of teams, but it could work in the Patriots’ favor. Don’t be surprised if New England makes Sanders a high priority and inks him early in free agency. He’s just the sort of veteran that could make Brady’s last few years a little easier.