Joe Douglas will have to be judicious with how much he doles out in his first free agency in the big chair, but it would be a mistake to let Anderson walk. Timing is everything for Anderson, who will be one of the most coveted wide receivers in a relatively weak free agency class. Amari Cooper is on the marquee, but the Cowboys could keep him in-house by slapping the franchise tag on him if they aren’t ready to commit the big bucks in a multi-year deal. Does 31-year-old A.J. Green, who missed the entire season, entice you?
Anderson, who will turn 27 this summer, is entering his prime. Most importantly for the Jets, he has developed a chemistry with Darnold. So, why strip the young quarterback of a quality weapon? The best way to truly cultivate Darnold’s talents is to surround him with good players. Whether or not Anderson, who had 52 receptions for 779 yards and five touchdowns, is a “true No. 1 receiver” isn’t nearly as important as whether he can help Darnold — and thus, the entire offense — get to a higher plane.
Anderson showed signs of diversifying his portfolio in his fourth season. His improvement (see: contested catches) in the second half of the season was undeniable.
Another key question centers on how much Anderson can trust Gase. Remember, the head coach was on board with getting rid of the player before the trade deadline. Make no mistake: The Jets were shopping Anderson. What happens the next time Anderson gets in Gase’s doghouse? The coach’s penchant for changing his mind on players every other week will be a real factor for Anderson.
Anderson could be in line for a deal in the neighborhood of $12-$14 million/year. Will the Jets be willing to be the highest bidder? They’ll have to be since Anderson isn’t giving any hometown discounts.
Anderson, who will turn 27 this summer, is entering his prime. Most importantly for the Jets, he has developed a chemistry with Darnold. So, why strip the young quarterback of a quality weapon? The best way to truly cultivate Darnold’s talents is to surround him with good players. Whether or not Anderson, who had 52 receptions for 779 yards and five touchdowns, is a “true No. 1 receiver” isn’t nearly as important as whether he can help Darnold — and thus, the entire offense — get to a higher plane.
Anderson showed signs of diversifying his portfolio in his fourth season. His improvement (see: contested catches) in the second half of the season was undeniable.
Another key question centers on how much Anderson can trust Gase. Remember, the head coach was on board with getting rid of the player before the trade deadline. Make no mistake: The Jets were shopping Anderson. What happens the next time Anderson gets in Gase’s doghouse? The coach’s penchant for changing his mind on players every other week will be a real factor for Anderson.
Anderson could be in line for a deal in the neighborhood of $12-$14 million/year. Will the Jets be willing to be the highest bidder? They’ll have to be since Anderson isn’t giving any hometown discounts.
