The Jets can’t afford to make a mistake in the offseason. Sadly, Robby Anderson has not earned the contract he’s likely to demand.
When fans think of the Jets’ offense the first three players to come to mind are likely Sam Darnold, Le’Veon Bell, and Robby Anderson. Anderson earned that notoriety with his play over the last two seasons. He had become one of the elite deep threats in the league and had the look of a breakout star.
When Adam Gase took over as head coach, and with Sam Darnold entering his second year Robby Anderson was a media favorite for a breakout player. That breakout hasn’t come, and it likely never will.
First, to dispel any thought that Robby Anderson has been held back by no having Darnold as his QB this year. Robby has played seven games with Darnold this year he has only topped 100 yards once in those games, that is also the only time he’s topped 50 yards with Darnold this season. With Sam Darnold at QB Robby Anderson is averaging 35.9 yards per game, with anybody else at QB this year Anderson is averaging 36 yards per game.
Overall this year Anderson has just 359 yards receiving. That’s pace for 522 receiving yards, that would be the worst receiving yards total in Anderson’s career. In no way does that make Anderson worth the 11 or 12 million he’s going to ask for on the free agent market.
He has the right to do so too. Tyrell Williams just got a four-year 44 million dollar contract from the Raiders last offseason. Williams was coming off a year where he had just 653 receiving yards. His numbers lineup pretty well with Anderson’s throughout their careers.
So, if I am Robby Anderson and his agent that contract set the bar for what I’d be looking for. He isn’t worth that to the Jets. Anderson and Darnold don’t work well together. Anderson is only averaging 2.4 receptions a game with Darnold this season. There is no WR that catches the ball twice a game that’s worth 11 million.
He doesn’t fit the offense that’s being run, and with Gase coming back it makes no sense to bring Anderson back. If the Jets want a deep threat like Anderson they can find one in free agency for way less than what Anderson is going to ask for.
The Jets can’t afford to be sucked into another bad contract. They should avoid extending Robby Anderson at all costs.