Panthers sign wide receiver Robby Anderson, another former Temple player, to 2-year deal
The Panthers have signed a new weapon for incoming quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Carolina has agreed to terms with wide receiver Robby Anderson on a two-year deal worth $20 million. Anderson played under coach Matt Rhule at Temple and is the fourth former Owl to join the Panthers this offseason, joining WR Keith Kirkwood, QB P.J. Walker and LB Tahir Whitehead. The wide receiver already took to Instagram to ask fans if he should wear #11 or #14 in Carolina. He wore #11 with the Jets the past four years and that is currently WR Brandon Zylstra’s number.
When asked about potentially joining the Panthers this offseason, Anderson said on ESPN, “That wouldn’t be a bad option.”
Wednesday marked the first day that there was a run on wide receivers in free agency as this year’s draft has been recognized by many analysts as one of the best wide receiver classes in some time.
The team was able to free up room financially to sign Anderson by officially releasing quarterback Cam Newton just minutes earlier. The release saved the team $19.1 million in cap space and provided the necessary room to bring in the wide receiver.
Anderson, 26, was considered the best free agent wide receiver available this offseason. He was ranked as No. 23 in overall free agent by NFL.com. He spent his first four years with the Jets and has totaled 207 receptions for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Jets were also very interested in retaining him, per reports.
Rhule and Anderson have a close relationship. In two years playing at Temple, 2013 and 2015, Anderson had 114 receptions for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was academically ineligible in 2014.
“Matt Rhule is a great coach, I was texting him not too long ago and I thanked him,” Anderson said at the end of the 2019 season to the New York media. “He put me through a lot of stuff at (Temple) that I used to get mad about but now I understand why he was doing those things, because he didn’t want me to rely on the fact that I’m talented. He taught me work ethic. ... He’s a great person, more importantly. He fought to get me back into Temple (after I got kicked out). He got them to change the rule ... he put himself on the line to make me get that second chance and get right.”
In each of the last two seasons, the wide receiver has averaged 15 yards per catch and is known as a down-field threat. Anderson has only totaled more than 800 yards once in his career (941, 2017) and has never had a season with more than seven touchdowns (7, 2017).
Considering he is known as a deep threat, it will be interesting to see how he fits with Bridgewater in offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s new offense. Only five of Anderson’s 20 career touchdowns have been catches of fewer than 20 yards. On the other hand, Bridgewater is known for shorter throws and 25 of his 38 regular season touchdown passes have been for less than 20 yards.
The move also shows that the Panthers are likely not done addressing the wide receiver position on the roster. Anderson brings the team’s total up to nine with the additions of Kirkwood, Pharoh Cooper and Seth Roberts during free agency. It would not be a surprise to see the team cut or trade one or more of those players. Curtis Samuel is a possible trade candidate after the potential he showed last season.
The Panthers’ offense has holes on the offensive line and at tight end as free agency continues and with the draft upcoming, but the team has collected a solid group of weapons.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 4:03 PM.
