NFL News: Broncos Trade Emmanuel Sanders To The 49ers

The undefeated San Francisco 49ers have made a move to improve their struggling wide receiver core. Exactly one week ahead of the NFL trade deadline, San Francisco has acquired two-time Pro Bowl receiver Emmanuel Sanders from the Denver Broncos.

According to various reports, the 49ers send a third-round pick and fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the Broncos. In return, San Francisco adds the impending free agent and a fifth-round pick next April.

This is one move we have speculated might happen ahead of the Oct. 29 trade deadline. San Francisco has been in need of a true starting receiver with the likes of youngsters Dante Pettis and Deebo Samuel struggling. With fellow youngsters Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd on injured reserved, this was magnified further.

Samuel heads into Week 8 leading 49ers receivers in catches with 15. Marquise Goodwin leads the team with just 181 yards from that position.

Adding the 32-year-old Sanders was a necessity for general manager John Lynch and Co. Less than a year after suffering a torn Achilles, the two-time Pro Bowler has put up 30 receptions for 367 yards on a struggling Broncos offense through seven games. He immediately becomes Jimmy Garoppolo's top target on the outside.

This moves doesn't come without a cost or in the absence of risk. By virtue of moving their third and fourth rounders in this deal, the 49ers only have one selection within the first four rounds of April's draft. Remember, they dealt away a 2020 second-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for Dee Ford during the spring. While that has worked out swimmingly, it puts Lynch and Co. behind the proverbial eight-ball next April.

Sanders is also slated to become a free agent following the 2019 season. On the surface, this is a win-now move for a team that currently sits at 6-0 on the season.

It goes somewhat against the grain during the Lynch-Shanahan tenure in San Francisco. This team's previous blockbusters included bringing in long-term options in trades such as the above-mentioned Ford and Jimmy Garoppolo.

With all of that said, it's become obvious the 49ers needed an upgrade at receiver. They get that in Sanders, who is averaging 75 receptions for 1,000 yards over the past five seasons.

San Francisco's move ot acquire Sanders on Tuesday means he's eligible to make his debut with the team Sunday against a good Carolina Panthers squad.