Packers ‘spoke with’ Emmanuel Sanders, who has signed with Saints

The Green Bay Packers’ search for wide receiver help continues.

Emmanuel Sanders signed a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on Friday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Sanders “spoke with” the Green Bay Packers, along with the Dallas Cowboys, before choosing to sign with the Saints.

It’s unclear just how interested the Packers were in signing Sanders, but it should come as no surprise given their need at wide receiver.

Free agency began with Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb signing deals, but the wide receiver market went quiet over the next few days. But that ended on Friday with Sanders signing a two-year deal with the Saints.

What Sanders’ deal potentially does is set the market for the remaining free agents at the position. That includes Robby Anderson, who is the best receiver available.

According to Schefter, Sanders’ deal is for two years, $16 million but worth up to $19 million. If Anderson is available on a similar contract, the Packers should have interest.

Now, the Packers don’t have to sign a free agent wide receiver as the draft class is historically strong at the position. That said, given their other needs at inside linebacker, tackle (even after signing players at both positions), defensive tackle and tight end, signing a player like Anderson would mean the Packers wouldn’t necessarily need to use a top pick at receiver. Although they still could.

After a fast start to free agency with the Packers signing Christian Kirksey and Rick Wagner, it’s gone quiet. The roster isn’t better today than it was in the NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers. You could make a case it’s worse than then.

There’s a long way to go, of course, and it’s still early in free agency. The need on defense is still great, and while the Packers could wait until the draft to get a receiver, they still have options in free agency.