The unbeaten 49ers, looking to bolster their receiving corps, have acquired Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, according to multiple reports.
The Broncos sent Sanders and a fifth-round pick to the Niners for third- and fourth-round picks in 2020, ESPN.com reported Tuesday.
The Patriots earlier in the day acquired wideout Mohamed Sanu from Atlanta, and Sanders' heading to San Francisco takes another attractive player for teams looking for wide receiver help off the market.
Denver wanted to hold on to Emmanuel Sanders for another week and have him play Sunday against Indianapolis. But San Francisco wanted Sanders to play Sunday against Carolina - and now he will.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2019
Earlier this week, ESPN reported that the Broncos "would welcome a second-day draft pick," meaning a second- or third-round choice, and, according to 9News in Denver, Broncos GM John Elway got "great value" for Sanders.
Sanders, for his part, said leaving was hard.
"Any time you break up, you leave, it's hard. We had a great run out here in Denver," he told CBS Denver. "Obviously all good things come to an end, but I'm looking forward to getting out to San Fran and showcasing my talent."
Caught Emmanuel Sanders as he was leaving the #Broncos facility. #4Broncos @CBSDenver #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/JRDtdHH3N3
— Michael Spencer (@MichaelCBS4) October 22, 2019
The Broncos last year dealt Demaryius Thomas to the Texans for a 2019 fourth-round pick and were looking for better for Sanders, 32. He has 30 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns seven games into the last season of a three-year, $33 million contract that pays him $10.25 million this season.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in practice in December and also underwent surgery on his right ankle in January.
But he made a remarkable recovery and was a full participant in training camp by the middle of August.
Sanders likely will welcome a change of scenery, especially to a playoff contender, which barring a huge turnaround Denver clearly is not.
In 134 career games, with the Steelers and Broncos, Sanders has 565 catches for 7,391 and 39 touchdowns. His best season with the Broncos was his first, 2014, when he had 101 catches for 1,404 yards and nine touchdowns.
