Heading into free agency in 2022, could we see Buffalo Bills WR Emmanuel Sanders on his fifth team in four years, and if so, where would be his potential landing spots this offseason? After another year of just being a role player, what could a market for Sanders look like this offseason, and where might he wind up for 2022?
Emmanuel Sanders landing spots
It is another year where Sanders’ numbers do not blow anyone away, but he’s been a very useful role player for Buffalo. That is what Sanders has become in recent years. He has not been a 1,000-yard receiver since 2016 but has been between 500-900 in each of the subsequent years.
The 2021 season saw an interesting difference. Sanders was used as a deeper threat by the Bills than he had been with Denver, San Francisco, or New Orleans. As a result, his yards per reception climbed to over 14 yards for the first time since 2012 with the Steelers. However, his catch rate of 58.3% is his lowest since 2017, having sat above 65% in each of the last three years.
The fact that Sanders is not a game-breaking receiver anymore could restrict his market this offseason. Most teams should be able to look beyond the catch percentage, given he had just 3 drops credited to him. Yet, his ceiling is really capped in that $5-7 million per year region on either a one or two-year contract.
With Sanders likely either a low-cost WR2 or a luxury WR3, where could be his potential landing spots this offseason? Could he give a boost to a rebuilding team, or might it be another role with a challenging team that we see Sanders settle into in 2022?
A return to the Bills in 2022 is not out of the question
There is no reason that Sanders could not return with the Bills in 2022. He is a versatile receiver that can play a role for them. Gabriel Davis has been emerging this year but is still raw. Buffalo may decide that Sanders offers them good insurance if Davis does struggle. Equally, the Bills could save $6 million by moving on from Cole Beasley this offseason. However, doing that to spend the money on Sanders would not make a lot of sense.
Cap space is Buffalo’s concern. They are projected to have under $10 million in 2022. Therefore, with Stefon Diggs and Davis on their roster, they may view Sanders as a luxury they don’t want to invest in. There will likely be cheaper options on the market who can provide that insurance role to the offense, and there are other needs the Bills need to address this offseason.
The Kansas City Chiefs could be the perfect landing spot for Sanders
The Chiefs have seemingly spent all season searching for that veteran third receiving option to replace Sammy Watkins. They have found some success with both Mecole Hardman and Byron Pringle, but Pringle is set to be a free agent. The team likes Hardman in more of a gadget role, whereas Sanders would be the more conventional third pass-catching option behind Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs would be a nice fit for Sanders as well because there is the potential to win another Super Bowl ring, while also ensuring he has future value on the open market. In 2020, Watkins averaged 5.5 targets a game in that role. Sanders could easily post another solid campaign in Kansas City in 2022 and then head back into free agency the following year.
The Miami Dolphins have some tough decisions to make around their receivers
The Dolphins have found a gem in Jaylen Waddle, but they need to put some consistent pass catchers around him. DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are injury prone, and behind them on the depth chart is nothing to get excited about. The other issue with those two is that they are not great separators and instead rely on their ability to beat defenders in tight coverage.
Sanders would provide Tua Tagovailoa with a target who is better at getting himself open. They would likely still want to add that big-bodied type of receiver — assuming they do not keep Parker around — but Sanders would be a good complement to Waddle. Putting Sanders opposite Waddle would give the Dolphins a good base at the receiver position to then add more talent around. The Dolphins could also overpay Sanders a little, with more than $60 million in projected cap space.
Sanders could be the missing piece in the Indianapolis Colts offense
An offense with a spearhead trio of Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and Sanders would be extremely interesting to game plan against. Teams would want to load the box against Taylor but would have to respect the two receivers as well. Pittman could beat them deep, while Sanders can either do the deep work or play the underneath role.
The Colts still have questions to answer at QB. But whoever they bring in needs to be an upgrade on Zach Pascal with a bit of T.Y. Hilton sprinkled in when healthy. Sanders is not the top-end receiver he once was, but he is still a fantastic role player for a contender. He could help elevate this Colts passing game up to a point where it is not simply a secondary element to the rushing attack.
Could Sanders head down to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Tom Brady?
Sanders was part of the receiving group that helped Peyton Manning win a ring on the way out of the door. He could have the opportunity to do the same for Tom Brady in 2022. With Chris Godwin a free agent and the Antonio Brown situation ending in acrimony, the Buccaneers need a complementary piece to Mike Evans.
Sanders would be an ideal candidate to come in and be a veteran receiver Brady can trust. The issue might be cap space, but we have seen the Buccaneers get creative. Additionally, Sanders might also be willing to take less next season to chase a ring with Tampa Bay.