As the NFL Draft quickly approaches in two weeks, teams are wrapping up their free agency moves in order to set their focus on draft plans. With key players still hanging out on the market, multiple teams are attempting to make moves to fill roster spots. The New England Patriots continue their hunt for a new wide receiver, inking Pittsburgh Steelers' Emmanuel Sanders to an offer sheet while the Cincinnati Bengals pursue linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Kerry Rhodes..
The Patriots are in need of a receiver that could be considered a No.1 guy and they believe Sanders could be that top guy. While they have been working out top receiver prospects in the upcoming draft class, they are attempting to steal Sanders from Pittsburgh. Sanders is a restrictive free agent and has signed the Patriots one-year offer sheet. Pittsburgh has five days to match the offer or go ahead and accept New England's third-round pick. Sanders will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2013 season.
At 26, Sanders is an athletic receiver that had a career-high 44 catches in 2012. Sanders is expected to be the top receiver for the Steelers who lost Mike Wallace to free agency. The Patriots lost Wes Welker to the Denver Broncos and signed mid-level guys like Danny Amedola and Michael Jenkins to replace him. Sanders could be the new deep threat for Tom Brady.
If the Patriots do sign Sanders, it may change their entire draft plan. They have been reported to be interested in drafting wide receiver Justin Hunter with their No. 29 draft pick. If they are able to sign the free agent, the team might look towards defense with their first pick. They have heavily scouted Tyrann Mathieu as a draft option.
The Bengals are pursuing Dansby to help improve their defense. Cincinnati has $27 million in cap space room and could offer the linebacker a favorable contract. The veteran is certainly approaching the older end of the NFL as he just turned 31, but he has proven he can still compete at a high level. In 2012, he had over 100 tackles, just under his career-high of 134. He would fit well next to Bengals' tackle Geno Atkins. Dansby has gained a high level of interest from other teams so if Cincinnati is serious about their pursuit of him, they will need to make him an offer soon.
The Bengals also brought in safety Kerry Rhodes for a workout. Rhodes was a standout with the Arizona Cardinals, recording over 23 interceptions in this three years with the team. Both he and Dansby could help give the Bengals one of the better defensive units in the league.
