NY Jets rumors: ‘Highly unlikely’ Robby Anderson returns in 2020

NY Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson is set to hit free agency and reports suggest that it’s “highly unlikely” that he returns to Gang Green in 2020.

The NY Jets are set to enter the 2020 offseason expecting plenty of roster turnover. Most of that turnover will be willing and self-imposed, but one player the team would love to bring back but probably won’t be able to is Robby Anderson.

The Jets want Anderson back, but reports have circulated for months indicating that his contract demands will likely be higher than what the team is willing to pay for his services.

And a recent report from The Athletic’s Connor Hughes seems to double-down on that notion.

Hughes wrote on Wednesday that it was “highly unlikely” that Anderson would return to New York in 2020. The two sides seem to be split on what his true value is.

Anderson is looking to make anywhere from $13-15 million in average annual salary which could place among the top 10-15 highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. And before anyone claims that he’s out of his mind, he’s fully expected to get what he’s looking for.

But it isn’t expected to be from the Jets.

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Hughes went on to state that the Jets would love to re-sign him to a similar deal that the Miami Dolphins gave DeVante Parker at four years, $40 million. But realistically, that just isn’t feasible.

Anderson has a more successful track record than Parker despite the latter’s breakout 2019 season. On top of that, Anderson has missed just two games over the last four seasons while Parker has missed nine and garnered an “injury-prone” reputation.

There’s no chance that Anderson signs a deal close to what Parker did, and the Temple product has already iterated that he won’t be giving the Jets a hometown discount.

Anderson’s days in green and white appear numbered.

Instead, the Jets will need to turn to free agency and the draft to fill their growing need at wide receiver. And with the 2020 NFL Draft ripe with top-end receiver talent, they should have ample opportunities to address the position.

Prospects like Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb could be options in the first round while others such as Jordan Jefferson or Michael Pittman Jr. are feasible Day 2 targets.

One player to keep an eye on in free agency is veteran speedster Breshad Perriman who the Jets could look to target to replace Anderson’s deep-threat ability. He would likely come cheaper than most and he’s one of the more intriguing options in a weak free-agent class of receivers.

The Jets have options to replace Robby Anderson and that’s likely the path that they will take.