Wide Receiver Robby Anderson will become a free agent if the New York Jets don’t offer him a new contract. If that were the case, should the Las Vegas Raiders make a run for the veteran?
During the 2019 season, the Raiders were rumored to be interested in trading for Anderson, but the trade deadline came and went and the team stayed put. The reason could have been that the Jets asked for too much in return and if that’s the case, signing Anderson in free agency wouldn’t cost Las Vegas any picks or compensation besides the receiver’s salary.
What Would It Cost the Raiders?
The Raiders count with around $70 million, which is more than enough to meet Anderson salary demands. However, the receiver already said via New York’s website “why I wouldn’t go out there and see what my true value could be” and that “the business perspective is to get the most money in the best situation.” Those are the words of a player who will cash in and make the most of its value.
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Despite the fact Las Vegas can afford Anderson’s contract, they shouldn’t do it as they already have a receiver on their roster who can bring similar production and will likely come cheaper. That receiver is Tyrell Williams.
Williams, the one that failed to produce more than one 100-yard game last year and will have a cap hit of $11.1 million if he isn’t cut before March. Now, the former Chargers receiver was bother by plantar fasciitis most of the season. With one offseason to heal, he could become the field stretcher the Raiders envisioned when they got him and they wouldn’t need to add Anderson to their receiver corps.
By The Numbers
Anderson had 941 yards and seven touchdowns in 2017. That’s the closest he’s gotten to 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Williams had one of those in his last year with the Chargers and averages 15.5 yards per reception while Anderson gets 14.8 per catch.
This past season, it might’ve been sense to add Anderson as the Raiders were still recovering from the Antonio Brown fiasco and were experimenting with their wide receiver corps. Nowadays? Not so much.
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