Stokley: Broncos must make impact move if they cut Emmanuel Sanders

Feb 25, 2019, 6:16 PM Updated: Feb 26, 2019, 12:21 am

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In a “win-now mode,” the only way the Denver Broncos can justify moving on from wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is by using the money saved to bring in an impact player, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley said on Monday.

Nearly a week removed from Sanders balking at the suggestion the Broncos may want to approach him about a contract restructure, Stokley said if Denver were in a rebuild mode then cutting the veteran wide receiver would be “fine.”

But if the Broncos just want to move on without making “any kind of big, splashy move” for a player who could impact the team immediately, Stokley said it “doesn’t make sense.”

“You’re telling me you want to win now. And if you want to win now, that guy can help you win now, especially if he’s healthy,” Stokley said.

Stokley’s co-host, Zach Bye, said the topic of Sanders taking a pay cut, restructuring, or being released “wouldn’t even be a conversation” if he were healthy.

The veteran wide receiver, who turns 32 next month, missed the final four games of the Broncos 2018 season after suffering a torn left Achilles tendon during practice in Week 14.

“… A healthy Emmanuel Sanders, when he walks out the door, your football team gets worse. Quite simply. Offensively, they get worse when Emmanuel Sanders leaves,” Bye said. “And we saw that, good god, painfully so. When Emmanuel was not in the lineup, the offense was neutered.”

Indeed, Sanders’ season-ending injury coincided with the Broncos collapse down the stretch in 2018, wherein Denver, 6-6 heading into Week 14, lost its remaining four games.

Without his top receiving target, quarterback Case Keenum logged just 937 yards in the final four games, threw just four touchdowns with five interceptions, and had a passer rating of 72.0.

Despite missing a quarter of the season, Sanders still led the Broncos in receptions (71), receiving yards (868), targets (98), and was tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (4) with Courtland Sutton.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.