ARIZONA CARDINALS

49ers reportedly add WR Emmanuel Sanders from Broncos

Oct 22, 2019, 12:36 PM | Updated: 12:37 pm

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bea...

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) celebrates his touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Arizona Cardinals’ division just got a bit tougher.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick were traded from the Denver Broncos to the San Francisco 49ers for 2020 third- and fourth-rounders on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter.

The Cardinals face Sanders and the 6-0 49ers twice over their next four games with the first meeting on Halloween night in Glendale.

When healthy, Sanders has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL over his career.

For the Super Bowl champion Broncos in 2015, he caught 101 balls for 1,404 yards and nine touchdowns en route to making the Pro Bowl.

This year, he has 30 catches through seven games with 367 yards and two scores.

If Sanders is going to fit in with a new team, the 49ers seem like a perfect choice. Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was the quarterbacks coach for San Francisco over the past two seasons, and he implemented much of the 49ers offense in his schemes in Denver, according to Ted Nguyen of The Athletic.

Last year, Sanders burned the Cardinals for 101 yards at a touchdown in a 45-10 beatdown by Denver in Week 7. He also threw a touchdown pass on a trick play.

The 49ers did not have a go-to receiver this season, as tight end George Kittle was getting more targets than any wideout. Now, Sanders steps in as someone who can add another dimension to the offense as a deep threat for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

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