Emmanuel Sanders fires agent, expected to be highly coveted in free agency by teams with a short passing game

RUMBLINGS: BRONCOS, JETS, EAGLES TO CHASE SANDERS IN FREE AGENCY?

Pending free agent WR Emmanuel Sanders has fired his Texas based agent Jordan Woy. High profile agent Drew Rosenhaus who reps Sanders close friend Antonio Brown, is among the shortlist of agents Sanders is considering signing with and the Steelers wide out will be permitted to officially sign with a new agent next week, sources tell Inside Pittsburgh Sports.

Sanders, 27, had a career high 67 receptions for 740 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2013 for the Steelers. Sanders had no 100 yard games or multiple touchdown games and what has plagued him his entire career, Sanders lacked those critical tough catches in key moments of games. Sanders wasn’t even the Steelers second best wide receiver in 2013 which goes to Jerricho Cotchery and with a strong WR draft class and Markus Wheaton entering his second season, it is unlikely the Steelers and Sanders see themselves as a match when it comes to money on a new contract. Not to mention Sanders has had foot and knee issues throughout his career, further limiting his chances of getting a long-term contract from the Steelers.

Sanders is expected to be coveted and will have a number of suitors in free agency. Multiple teams love the fit for Sanders in a short passing game who has 4.4 speed and excellent quickness. Word is also spreading pre-combine (where tampering is wide spread) that Broncos, Eagles and Patriots are all expected to have some level of interest in Sanders and could emerge as suitors in free agency.

Last off-season the Patriots signed Sanders to a one year, $2.5 million offer sheet that the Steelers matched. Patriots coach Bill Belichick had great things to say about Sanders leading up to the Steelers – Patriots contest in Week 9.

“He’s an explosive player and he’s fast,” Belichick of Sanders. “He’s dangerous on catch-and-run plays like tear screens, reverses and kick returns. He’s also a good route runner with quickness and obviously speed and big-play ability.”

The Patriots are likely to kick the tires on Sanders again but the big play from an AFC East team could come from the New York Jets. The New York Daily News reported Friday that Sanders and Philadelphia’s Jeremy Maclin top the Jets wishlist.