Former SMU Receiver Signs With Broncos

The Denver Broncos agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on a three-year contract after passing a physical, the team announced Sunday.

Sanders’ deal is worth $15 million, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The National Football Post reported the deal is worth up to $18 million, including $6 million guaranteed.

“We’re thrilled to announce the signing of Emmanuel Sanders,” general manager John Elway said at a press conference. “He’s a guy that has had a tremendous career so far, and we think that he’s only scratched the surface. So we have great expectations of Emmanuel and really think he’s going to come in and add a tremendous amount to the offensive side.”

Sanders (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is a fifth-year player who appeared in 56 career regular-season games (18 starts) during his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, totaling 161 receptions for 2,030 yards with 11 touchdowns. He also owns 13 catches for 172 yards in four career postseason games played.

“It feels good to be a Bronco,” Sanders said. “I want to thank (owner and CEO) Pat Bowlen, John Elway and, of course, (head coach) John Fox for bringing me here. This is a team that I wanted to go to during free agency. Somehow, someway it ended up happening.”

Sanders, who turns 27 on Monday, started 10 of 16 games for the Steelers in 2013 and recorded career highs in receptions (67), receiving yards (740) and touchdowns (6). Sanders caught at least one pass in every game and finished the year with four touchdowns in the Steelers’ final six contests.

Sanders was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Southern Methodist University.

The record-setting Broncos’ offense was in need for help at wide receiver after Eric Decker left in free agency for the New York Jets.