Atlanta Falcons Trade Mo Sanu For 2nd Round Pick
By Deke Lloyd
The Atlanta Falcons made news this morning when they shipped wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots for a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the move, the Falcons are signaling that the season is officially a loss.
News of trades coming down the pipe for the Atlanta Falcons has heated up after the team lost their fifth straight game on Sunday to the Rams. The initial name to leak out was Vic Beasley, but there had been speculation Mo Sanu would be moved before next week’s NFL trade deadline. Today, Mo Sanu was the first domino to fall, who will be going to New England in exchange for a 2nd round draft pick.
The haul for Sanu is a little surprising, considering his age and position with the team, predominantly the third receiver for the Falcons. After the Antonio Brown debacle and Josh Gordon’s health concerns, the Patriots were desperate for some more options for Tom Brady to make yet another run at the Super Bowl. What looks like a risky move for the Patriots will benefit the Falcons in a season where the NFL Draft is one of the few things this team can look forward to.
This morning had to be a great morning for Sanu, who will now go to a team with a legitimate chance at winning a Super Bowl, something that wasn’t going to happen for him in Atlanta. Getting to play with Tom Brady and be coached by Bill Belichick has to be a reason to celebrate, too. Sanu will get to escape the doom and gloom of Atlanta to flee to the winning confines of New England, however, Sanu will be missed here in Atlanta.
Mo Sanu was referred, appropriately, as the Swiss army knife during his time in Atlanta. Obviously, he was a wide receiver for the Falcons, but that is only scraping the surface of Sanu’s talents. Every Falcons fan will remember his long touchdown pass to Julio Jones. Sanu could also line up in the backfield as a running back, return kickoffs and punts, and fill in as an emergency punter. Sanu is a special, special talent that is often overlooked in the NFL. It’s going to be nice to watch him get his praise in New England while competing to win a Super Bowl.
With all that said, it’s a harsh way for the Falcons to start their day, all but announcing the season is lost. Yes, it was likely impossible for the Falcons to drag their half-dead carcass out of this 1-6 hole they’ve put themselves in to start the season. The trade signals the Falcons know this season is a wash and changes are likely coming to the front office and head coaching area.
Mo Sanu is gone, but who will be next? Don’t be surprised to see more players on the move before next week’s deadline. The Falcons are pushing hard to get Vic Beasley out of town, but we could see other names that surprise us. This team needs to start focusing on next season and how to improve this team. It seems like that began this morning.