Philadelphia Eagles trade deadline primer: Wideout edition
By Pete Long
Mohamed Sanu (Atlanta Falcons)
Two years ago, Mohamed Sanu and the Atlanta Falcons held a 21-3 halftime lead in Super Bowl LI. Fast forward through a collapse of historic proportions in the second half of that game and a disappointing early exit in Philly from last year’s playoffs to a Falcons team that sits in dead last in the NFC South.
They’re fresh off a healthy drubbing from the previously struggling Pittsburgh Steelers and they can’t seem to regain their Super Bowl XL first-half form. Their defense is depleted and they could use a few draft picks (though a draft pick wouldn’t solve their red zone play calling issues).
In this past year’s draft, the Falcons selected another product of the Nick Saban NFL Prospect Factory in Alabama, rookie wideout Calvin Ridley. It has been a slow process of easing Ridley into their offense, but his six touchdowns lead the team and, though Julio Jones sits at the bottom of the barrel with none, it’s hard to believe the Falcons would look to move their prized possession.
That leaves Sanu. His seven-year career began in Cincinnati where he played his best season of football in 2015. A change of scenery to Atlanta revitalized his game and he thrived in the past two and a half seasons as the Falcons secondary weapon. Last season, they went to Sanu more times in the red zone than they did Jones.
With draft picks to give, the Birds could land Sanu as an added secondary receiver and a more reliable touchdown threat in the red zone. He is good for about 500 yards and three to five touchdowns.
Sanu is on the back-end of his career, but he could give the Eagles a few more solid years and make an immediate impact this season.