Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans on targeting in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

The Jets have 32 players set to hit the open market this offseason. Some don’t figure to factor into New York’s plans for 2020, while others it’s safe to assume the Jets would like to keep around for a while. Either way, Douglas has a lot of work to do in his first offseason on the job.

Robby Anderson is the most important player Douglas has to decide on. The star wideout has already said he will not re-sign with New York before the beginning of free agency, but what should Douglas do once the Temple product hits the open market? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s first free agent profile of the offseason.

Pros of bringing him back

The Jets don’t exactly have a bevy of weapons for Sam Darnold to work with. Jamison Crowder was dynamic working out of the slot in 2019, but Darnold needs a bit more talent at his disposal than one receiver. That’s where ensuring Anderson sticks around comes into play.

Anderson is the deep threat that New York’s offense needs. He can take the top off the defense with his speed and is adept at high pointing the football to come down with acrobatic catches in jump ball situations. Anderson’s underneath route running has also drastically improved over the last year, adding another element to his game.

The Jets can’t afford to not stock the cupboard for Darnold entering his third year. How is he supposed to succeed if he has almost nobody to throw to? Not bringing Anderson back puts Darnold and a Jets offense that struggled to put points on the board at a major disadvantage.

Cons of bringing him back

The main issue with keeping Anderson in the Big Apple is the hefty price tag that follows him into free agency. According to Spotrac, Anderson is worth $11.4 million on the open market. The Athletic’s Connor Hughes reported he could be seeking a deal in the $13-15 million range. Is Anderson really worth the money considering he hasn’t established himself as a true No. 1 receiver?

There’s also the fear that Anderson might mail it on once he gets the contract he desired. Anderson spent all of 2019 motivated to earn himself a payday, but he had moments where he slipped up and took plays off. That’s not the best look, especially in a contract year when every penny is on the line.

What’s going to happen when Anderson’s money is in the bank and he doesn’t have to go out and earn it? That’s something every team bidding for his services is going to have to consider.

The Verdict

Anderson’s return to the Jets in 2020 is predicated on whether or not Douglas believes he’s worth paying. If Douglas is fully engaged in a bidding war for his services and willing to meet his contractual demands, Anderson will likely give the Jets a long look considering his familiarity with the organization and rapport with Darnold. If he isn’t all-in on paying Anderson what he wants, he won’t be a member of New York’s roster next season. It’s as simple as that.

Purely from an Xs and Os perspective, the Jets should do everything in their power to ensure Anderson re-signs with them. The wide receiver market is thin this offseason and Anderson is the cream of the crop assuming Amari Cooper remains with the Cowboys. With that being said, if Douglas isn’t 100 percent sold on Anderson’s asking price, he’ll have no issue finding Darnold a new No. 1 receiver to work with.