Bleacher Report thinks the Buffalo Bills could have done better than Emmanuel Sanders in free agency.
After the Bills cut John Brown, they did have a hole to fill, however, B/R thinks Sanders’ best days might be too far behind him. Sanders earned the honor of being Buffalo’s “worst move” in free agency from the outlet and most of it has to do with age:
While finding someone to replace Brown was important, the Bills elected to acquire an aging veteran in Emmanuel Sanders, the former New Orleans Saints wideout who was one of many salary-cap casualties in the Big Easy.
Sanders is now 34 years old and beginning to reach the final stages of his career. While he still produced at a respectable level—especially while filling in for an injured Michael Thomas—it’s a gamble that he will be able to keep it up as he prepares for his 12th season as a pro.
Buffalo may have been better served shoring up more positions of need than spending $6 million on a No. 3 wideout.
While it’s hard to argue a factual stat… yes, B/R is right. Sanders is 34. However, he’s not going to be tasked to do much more than Brown was doing in 2020. Overall because of injury and perhaps some poor play, Brown wasn’t great last year.
But releasing Brown and Quinton Jefferson together, the Bills saved near $14 million against next year’s salary cap. Brown alone was $8M. Sanders will make just under $6 M in 2021.
So either way, as long as Sanders is serviceable, B/R missed the boat on this one. Not only did the Bills fill Brown’s shoes with a move that won’t step on Stefon Diggs or Gabe Davis’ toes, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane saved at least $2 million against next year’s cap.
Money that can be used elsewhere, as B/R says.
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