When many expected the Falcons to add a speedy wide receiver in the offseason, the team drew a pretty disappointed response when they signed Mohamed Sanu. He was considered more of a possession wide receiver, but struggled with securing the football and fell down the Cincinnati Bengals' depth chart last season. He then received a 5-year, $32.5 million deal that has been called one of the worst moves of the offseason by multiple websites.
I'm not sure if we ever considered this possibility, but what if Sanu ended up being really good? Former NFL wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson certainly thinks Sanu will be good.
"He is going to be one of the best number 2's in this league."
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) June 22, 2016
- @Nate13Burleson on #Falcons Sanu pic.twitter.com/LKpDJaacmT
One of the best #2 receivers in the league? That would be a major improvement. Not that Andy Dalton has been known to distribute the ball effectively, but Sanu would realistically need to finish with much better than his career best 790 receiving yards.
Others piled on this opinion, including Chris Wesseling, writer for Around the NFL.
I’m in lockstep with @Nate13Burleson. Sanu is going to exceed expectations in Atlanta https://t.co/8SxMGziRKs
— Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) June 22, 2016
The potential is there. Sanu is a physical player and does a good job running routes. I think 1,200 yards would be a pretty big stretch, but he could flirt with a 1,000 yard season under the right circumstances. If Burleson is correct, one of the best #2's should but Sanu right around 1,000 yards.
Could Sanu actually turn into one of the best deals of the offseason? Many are skeptical, but the potential is there.