The No. 1 goal for wide receivers is to get open, and Mohamed Sanu does a very good job of accomplishing that.
Sanu reportedly was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2020 second-round draft pick Tuesday, and he will provide much-needed depth for a Pats receiving corps that's battled plenty of injuries and other depth concerns over the first half of the season.
One of the talents Sanu brings to the Patriots is the ability to separate from opposing defensive backs and get open. In fact, he ranks in the top five of all NFL wideouts in average yards of separation when targeted. Take a look at the leaderboard below:
Sanu has tallied 33 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown in seven games for the Falcons this season. He joined the Falcons via free agency in 2016 and quickly established himself as one of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan's most trusted targets.
Leaving the Falcons, who are 1-6 and headed for a second consecutive season without playoff action, gives the 30-year-old veteran a fantastic opportunity to win the first Super Bowl of his career. Sanu came tantalizing close to winning the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LI, but Tom Brady and the Patriots broke the Falcons' hearts with a comeback for the ages.
Tom E. Curran's takeaways from the Sanu trade>>>
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