Jets place second-round tender on Robby Anderson

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the New York Jets have officially placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent wide receiver Robby Anderson.

A top priority for the New York Jets this offseason will be adding offensive playmakers to improve the supporting cast around young quarterback Sam Darnold. While free agency is yet to officially begin, it looks as though the Jets have locked up one of their top offensive players in wide receiver Robby Anderson.

A report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has indicated that the Jets have agreed to place a second-round tender on Anderson who was set to be a restricted free agent. As a restricted free agent, the team had to make a decision on what type of tender they’d choose to place on him.

In laymen’s terms, the Jets agreed to sign Anderson to a one-year, $3.1 million contract. Now, any team will be able to offer a contract, or offer sheet, to Anderson but the Jets will have the opportunity to match the offer and sign him to that contract instead.

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However, if they don’t match, Anderson would be signed by that team and the Jets would receive their second-round pick as compensation, hence the “second-round tender.” If no team presents an offer sheet, then Anderson would sign the one-year deal and play with the Jets in 2019 before hitting unrestricted free agency the following offseason.

The 2016 undrafted free agent was the Jets leading receiver in 2018 hauling in 50 receptions for 752 yards and six touchdowns. Although his numbers were down from his breakout 2017 campaign, Anderson came alive late in the season when the Jets passing game really began to click with Darnold firing on all cylinders.

A second-round tender is right around Anderson’s market value and ultimately the correct choice for the Jets. It’s unlikely that any team does extend an offer sheet to Anderson as no organization would likely be willing to give up a second-round pick for the speedy deep-threat.

Still, if some team does, in fact, offer a contract to Anderson, it may just be in the Jets best interest to take the compensatory pick and move on. While the Jets undoubtedly need to add more receiver depth and not take it away, they could really use the second-round pick and it’s hard to argue that the value in this pseudo-trade wouldn’t be there.

It wouldn’t be an easy decision and there is no obvious, correct answer, but it’s definitely something the team would have to consider if the scenario presents itself. Either way, it’s unlikely the Jets will have to face that dilemma at the end of the day.

Barring any extreme circumstances, expect to see Anderson back in the green and white next season.