Carolina Panthers, Robby Anderson agree to contract extension

The Carolina Panthers have signed star wide receiver Robby Anderson to a two-year contract extension, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal will keep Anderson in a Panthers uniform through the 2023-2024 season.

Anderson will receive a pay bump

Last season, Anderson set career highs with 95 receptions, 136 targets and 1,096 yards. He averaged 11.5 yards per reception, adding three touchdowns in his first season with Carolina. In his career, Anderson has 302 receptions, 4,155 yards and 23 touchdowns in five seasons.

Anderson’s two-year extension is worth $29.5 million overall. After his breakout season, Anderson gets a nice raise at $14.75 million per season and will receive more than $20 million guaranteed, per Rapoport. He will also be eligible for a fourth contract at the conclusion of the deal at just 30 years old.

Sources: The #Panthers and WR Robby Anderson have agreed to terms on a 2-year, $29.5M extension to hand Anderson more guaranteed money and keep him in a Carolina uniform. He’ll be eligible for a fourth contract at age 30. The former undrafted WR cashes in again.💰 💰 💰

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2021

Anderson’s new deal will make him a top 20 wide receiver in terms of average annual salary, putting him above receivers like Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs.

The Panthers’ offense could be in line for a huge season

Carolina traded for Sam Darnold in the offseason to become their new starting quarterback. In doing so, the Panthers reunite Darnold and Anderson, who previously played together with the New York Jets. Carolina also has DJ Moore and Terrace Marshall at wide receiver, and Christian McCaffrey is a star at running back.

Darnold never had this type of weaponry with the Jets, so he could be in line for a major breakout this season. If Darnold can perform at even an average level, the Panthers’ offense could become one of the NFL’s best.

“Sam Darnold is going to have DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Christian McCaffrey, Terrace Marshall who is lighting up camp, and a very creative play-caller in Joe Brady,” ESPN’s Matthew Berry said. “If Sam Darnold is even competent, I think that offense puts up numbers. You think about what Carolina likes to do, they’ve got speed out the wazoo. Finding ways to get those guys in space and get yards after the catch, there’s going to be free yards everywhere for Sam Darnold.

“I think the Panthers offense is going to be one of the better offenses in the NFL. I like that offense as a whole.”

If the offense performs at the high level that Berry expects, that means that Anderson will again be one of the most explosive threats in the NFL. After being undrafted out of Temple, Anderson has made a nice career for himself. Anderson will look to continue his breakout this season for the Panthers.