The New England Patriots have signed Emmanuel Sanders, the Steelers' restricted free agent wide receiver, to an offer sheet. Based on the amount of the qualifying tender the Steelers placed on Sanders back in March, the team would receive the Patriots' third-round draft pick, the 91st overall selection, if it does not match the offer to keep the fourth-year wide receiver.
The Steelers have until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, to make their decision.
It has been reported widely that the offer sheet signed by Sanders is a one-year deal, with the value of that deal somewhere between $2.5 million and $4 million. The Steelers do not comment on contract terms.
Since being a third-round pick in 2010 from SMU, Sanders has played in 40 games, with eight starts, seven of which came in 2012. He has 94 catches for 1,290 yards (13.7 average), with five touchdowns. He caught 44 passes for 626 yards (14.2 average), with one touchdown, last season.
So far, Sanders is the only restricted free agent to sign an offer sheet this year. The deadline for signing restricted free agents to offer sheets is April 19.
