The Jets may have some competition with the Carolina Panthers for the services of Robby Anderson once free agency rolls around.
Matt Rhule was hired to be the Panthers’ new head coach on Tuesday. Anderson, set to hit the open market, played under Rhule while the two were at Temple together. During exit interviews last week, Anderson was asked about the possibility of reuniting with his former college head coach in the NFL and wasn’t opposed to it.
“That wouldn’t be a bad option,” Anderson said.
However, the Panthers don’t really have a need for a wide receiver. They have two young wideouts in D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel that have a ton of promise. Meanwhile, Carolina only has about $30 million in cap space, so unless the Panthers feel the need to add a high-priced vertical threat, then a reunion between Anderson and Rhule seems unlikely.
So that’s one potential suitor the Jets probably don’t have to worry about competing against.
In two seasons under Rhule at Temple, Anderson recorded 1,730 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns.
Now, he is set to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. He is coming off a 779-yard season with five touchdowns and is expected to receive in the range of $13-15 million annually. Anderson has already said he will not give the Jets a hometown discount.
In terms of the Panthers, though, the Jets shouldn’t feel threatened by them unless Rhule goes out of his way to make it a priority to sign Anderson in free agency. Even then, it’s hard to imagine the Panthers will meet Anderson’s price tag.