Trade Rumors: Green Bay Packers have called on Emmanuel Sanders

NFL analyst Benjamin Allbright has reported that the Green Bay Packers are one of the teams who have called on Broncos receiver, Emmanuel Sanders.

It wasn’t too long ago that Denver GM John Elway had said that Emmanuel Sanders was not up for trade after the Broncos had won two straight games. But how quickly things can change in the NFL. After a disappointing loss to Kansas City last Thursday night, Elway has changed his tune and is fielding calls on the veteran wide receiver.

And of the teams that have contacted Denver in regards to Sanders, NFL Analyst and Broncos Insider, Benjamin Allbright has reported that the Green Bay Packers are one of those teams. Along with the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints.

Without Adams against the Raiders – who give up the second-most passing yards per game this season – the Packers’ receiving core was able to put together a huge day and quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished with a perfect passer rating. However, there are still some concerns about whether or not they can provide consistent production moving forward.

Prior to Sunday’s game, the Green Bay receivers had caught just 16/31 passes for 226 yards against Dallas and Detroit. And if we take Allen Lazard’s fantastic fourth quarter on Monday night out of the equation, those numbers drop to 12/26 for only 161 yards. There’s no question that a player of Sanders’ caliber could put this offense over the top.

Through seven weeks, Sanders has caught 30 of the 43 passes thrown his way for 367 yards and two touchdowns. Perhaps what makes those numbers even more impressive is that there was a two-game stretch in weeks five and six that he was hardly targeted by Joe Flacco. Not to mention that Sanders can line up in the slot or out wide which is an important part of being a receiver in the Matt LaFleur offense.

Sanders is 32 years old and is in the final year of his contract. However, with roughly $10 million in cap space still remaining this season, the Packers could very easily absorb what is left on Sanders’ contract in 2019.

As far as the cost to acquire him, Allbright would send a follow-up tweet stating that the Denver Broncos are asking for a third-round pick in return. Now of course, there is some risk in Green Bay giving up a third-rounder for an aging receiver that could leave at the end of the season, but this Packers team appears to have the potential for a Super Bowl run and if GM Brian Gutekunst thinks that Sanders can be a difference-maker, then he shouldn’t hesitate to do it.