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Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is different than most NFL players.
Apparently, he's not worried about a contract while playing on a one-year deal.
Speaking on 93-7 The Fan Wednesday, Sanders admitted ...At the end of the day, I'm telling you that I'm honest when I say I'm not worried about a contract. The contracts will come."
He also said the discussion of those contracts is underway. To what extent, he didn't mention, but it's not rare the team would discuss and negotiate extensions through training camp. The team has inked inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley and safety Troy Polamalu to extensions during training camp in the past - Polamalu signed his most recent extension the day before the 2011 season began.
It's possible the Steelers could ink Sanders to a cap-friendly multi-year extension before the season starts. He really doesn't have much leverage due to a lack of production in comparison with the larger contracts signed recently at his position. He can't hold a candle to the production of Antonio Brown, the leading Steelers receiver over the last two years, for example.
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Sanders' profile certainly got a boost this offseason when the Patriots offered him a one-year deal in restricted free agency worth $2.5 million. The Steelers matched that deal, essentially giving Sanders a raise on his $1.3 million one-year RFA tender. How much value he has long-term is a different story, though. It seems more likely he'll be asked to perform for 16 games before a significant contract will be negotiated.
Sanders will be a free agent in 2014, if no long-term deal with the Steelers is made.