Ace Sanders Released: New England Patriots Should Pursue
There’s a new wide receiver available on the free agent market that the New England Patriots should put some serious thought into signing. Ace Sanders could serve as a Julian Edelman type of player for the Patriots in the passing game, giving No. 11 breathers and providing depth as his backup.
On Friday afternoon, the Jacksonville Jaguars announced the release.
The Jaguars released wide receiver Ace Sanders today. More to follow on http://t.co/cyd91PyiRr.
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) July 17, 2015
A veteran of two NFL seasons, Sanders was apparently having a “very good” offseason, according to Gus Bradley. But with the youth movement in the Jacksonville receiving corps, there wasn’t much room for the 5-foot-7 Sanders on the depth chart, even though he has good return ability.
Seeing as how the Patriots are not in need of a punt returner since they already have Edelman and Danny Amendola, you might wonder why they would be interested in Sanders. Well, it’s not for his punt return capability, but rather his potential in the passing game.
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Edelman, Amendola and Brandon LaFell are the only sure bets at wide receiver right now. After those guys, there isn’t a proven entity on the roster that is leaps and bounds better than Sanders.
If the Patriots used Sanders like the Jaguars did in 2013, good things will happen. In that year, Sanders pulled in 51 receptions, albeit for only 484 yards and just one score. But the Patriots have other pass catchers that can make the big plays and score touchdowns; Sanders could be used in a small-ball, possession receiver type of role.
The Patriots like to throw short passes. Instead of heaping a huge workload on Edelman’s shoulders, the Patriots should introduce Sanders into the rotation as a guy who could spell Edelman and buzz between linebackers and in front of safeties. With and without the ball in his hands, Sanders is slippery and difficult to keep track of, all 176 pounds of him.
So what Sanders could be in New England is Edelman’s sub, pretty much—a guy who could record 40, 50 catches over the course of the regular season and add yet another dimension to the Patriots’ aerial attack.