New Orleans Saints: Ranking the four No. 2 wide receivers in the NFC South
By Jake Rajala
Emmanuel Sanders
The Saints No. 1 wide receiver, Michael Thomas, garnered the year’s offensive player of the year in 2019.
Sean Payton went out to get more help for Drew Brees, as they chase another Super Bowl ring. Once Emmanuel Sanders got the phone call from Sean Payton, he packed his bags to head down to the Big Easy.
Emmanuel Sanders has playmaking ability and consistent play, but he’s not a big target. Sanders still managed to have over 850 receiving yards last season with a mediocre quarterback combination — Broncos QB Drew Lock and 49ers QB Jimmy Garapollo.
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Sanders has had over 850 receiving yards five times in his career, so his ranking on this list cements his status over Chris Godwin. He also has been first-team All-Pro, and he’s been in his three Super Bowls, winning one.
Saints fan will love to see that Sanders should make it to the Super Bowl with an elite team, and he’s found great performances with great quarterbacks, like with Peyton Manning. Playing in four Super Bowls would be very captivating for a wide receiver that was drafted in the third round by the Steelers in 2010.
Sanders may quietly be putting together a Hall of Fame career if he can put together two more years of Pro Bowl play. We saw Julian Edelman win the Super Bowl MVP in 2019 and uplift his moderate profile to a historic resume.
Sanders fits the profile with a great team to extend his incredible resume.
Sanders has great route running, speed in open field, and he has good hands. He still doesn’t have the elite speed and yards after catch ability like the two receivers who are ranked ahead of him as the better No. 2 receivers in the division.
Let’s take a look at the No. 2, No. 2 wide receiver in the NFC South.