Robby Anderson reportedly eyeing a NY Jets return in 2022

Former NY Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson has had a bit of an up-and-down tenure with the Carolina Panthers since departing from Florham Park ahead of the 2020 season.

The former undrafted free agent put together a career year in 2020 finishing with 95 catches for 1,096 yards and three touchdowns before bottoming out in 2021, due in large part to abysmal quarterback play.

With rumors that the Panthers could look to move Anderson this offseason, the New Jersey native reportedly has a preferred landing spot: the Jets.

D.J. Bien-Aime of the New York Daily News reported on Friday that Anderson would welcome a move back to New York because he feels he has unfinished business there. And, on the same note, he is apparently a big fan of Zach Wilson.

"If Anderson is moved, the Jets are his preferred designation, a source said. He feels like he has unfinished business in New York and likes Zach Wilson’s talent."

- D.J. Bien-Aime

Could the NY Jets trade for Robby Anderson this offseason?

Anderson is a good wide receiver who probably never got his due in New York. A former undrafted free agent, Anderson developed into one of the better deep threats in football and left on a reasonable two-year, $20 million deal in 2020.

General manager Joe Douglas has openly admitted that he regrets letting Anderson walk, but how receptive would the Jets be to a reunion with the speedy wideout coming off what was likely the worst season of his career?

Anderson is set to carry a cap hit of over $16 million in 2022 as a result of the extension he signed in 2021 which is a hefty price tag for a player who finished with under 600 yards last season, bad quarterback play or not.

It's worth noting that the Jets would be able to get out of his contract after the 2022 season with little in dead cap if things didn't go according to plan. Still, that's certainly a steep price to pay.

Robby Anderson isn't a true No. 1 wide receiver, but he does offer an element the Jets don't currently have in their offense. He's a certified deep threat with the ability to stretch the field and take the top off defenses.

Zach Wilson didn't really have that in 2021 with many of his yards coming on underneath routes after the catch. Wilson can throw it deep, but he needs a player like Anderson who can complement that part of his game.

It remains to be seen if any deal between the two teams will actually happen. Panthers GM Scott Fitterer may be hesitant to work with the Jets again after the Sam Darnold disaster.

But this is certainly a situation worth monitoring over the coming months.