NFL Rumors: Emmanuel Sanders Turned Down Cowboys, Packers to Sign with Saints

Emmanuel Sanders had no shortage of opportunities in free agency.

ESPN's Josina Anderson reported the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver agreed to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on Friday, and according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the 10-year veteran turned down the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.

Schefter noted Sanders' contract with the Saints is for $16 million but could be worth up to $19 million.

That means Sanders had his choice between two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers and a two-time Pro Bowler in Dak Prescott—not to mention all three teams are expected to contend for division titles, if not the Super Bowl, in 2020. 

Instead of being Rodgers' second option behind Davante Adams or No. 2 in Dallas behind Amari Cooper, Sanders will team up with Brees, running back Alvin Kamara and star wideout Michael Thomas. 

Sanders joined the Niners last October via a trade from Denver, and he caught 36 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns with his new team. And that was while sharing targets with tight end George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. 

The 33-year-old wasn't as productive in the postseason, catching five passes for 71 yards with no scores in three games. 

The fact that the Saints offense has so many different weapons and a creative head coach in Sean Payton may have been reason enough for Sanders to feel at home in New Orleans. 

The 2010 third-round pick out of SMU spent his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before landing with Denver in 2014. 

Perhaps no active receiver has a better resume of quarterbacks. Sanders went from Ben Roethlisberger to Peyton Manning to Jimmy Garoppolo, and now he gets Drew Brees. He just may pick up his second Super Bowl ring.