Why losing Emmanuel Sanders was ‘toughest decisions 49ers had to make’

Nov. 12 — SANTA CLARA — How important was the addition of receiver Emmanuel Sanders to the 49ers in 2019?

Before San Francisco acquired the veteran wideout from the Denver Broncos ahead of the trade deadline, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo averaged 219 yards per game with a lackluster 90.8 passer rating, good for 20th in the NFL.

With Sanders in the mix for the remainder of the season, Garoppolo’s numbers grew to 266 yards per game with a 108.1 passer rating, good for third over that span. Sanders, of course, quickly evolved into one of Garoppolo’s mosttrusted targets and was a key reason the team reached the Super Bowl.

“He meant a ton and I think it would have been real hard to get to where we got to if we didn’t make that move for him,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday, days before taking on Sanders and his new team on Sunday. “He came in, did exactly what I was hoping for and more.”

But the 49ers decided against beating the New Orleans Saints’ offer to Sanders in free agency in the spring, instead opting for a young and cheaper option, Brandon Aiyuk, in the first round of the NFL draft.