New York Jets: Robby Anderson could play pivotal role in offseason success

Offseason success for the New York Jets could rest in how they handle their free agent wide receivers, especially Robby Anderson.

Everyone is talking about the free agents the New York Jets should sign from other teams, but there’s one problem. They can’t fill all their vacancies with free agents from other teams.

According to Spotrac, the Jets will enter 2019 tied for the fewest returning players in the NFL. They will return 30. That means between the draft, signing undrafted free agents and the free agency period, they will need to sign 60 players for the training camp roster.

Right now, Gang Green doesn’t have a second-round pick, because they traded it in order to move up to take Sam Darnold in the 2018 draft. There has been an idea floated around of trading Leonard Williams to get the second-round pick back, and that’s doable, but there’s another way.

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There are three different types of free agency in the NFL. An exclusive rights free agent is technically not a free agent once a team tenders him, because he can’t negotiate with any other team once he is tendered, and an unrestricted free agent is permitted to negotiate with any team. However, Robby Anderson is a restricted free agent.

As a restricted free agent the Jets can match any offer given to Anderson. If not, based on his tender, they may or may not receive compensation:

1. First or second round tender – If the Jets were to use this one, Anderson can sign an offer sheet with another team, and if the Jets don’t match they would receive a first or second round pick.
2. Original round tender – If the Jets apply this tender, normally the Jets would receive the draft pick from where he was selected. However, Anderson was an undrafted free agent.
3. Right of first refusal: They can match any offer sheet on this one, but there is no compensation for the player.

If the Jets tender Anderson, and no one signs him to an offer sheet, then he is paid based on a sliding scale. According to SB Nation here are what the tender amounts were in 2018:

• First-round tenders: $4.149 million
• Second-round tenders: $2.914 million
• Original-round and low-level tenders: $1.907 million

These number will go up in 2019 at the same rate (5-10 percent) as the salary cap does. For example, if the salary cap goes up 6.5 percent, here’s what they would look like:

• First-round tenders: $4,418,685
• Second-round tenders: $3,056,610
• Original-round and low-level tenders: $2,030,955

These deals are one-year deals, and the players become unrestricted free agents the following season. The Jets should consider the second round tender option for Anderson in hopes the a team who needs a deep threat like him would be willing to sign him to an offer sheet, and they would do so with no intention of ever matching any offer.

Would a team give up a second round pick for Anderson? Maybe. There’s no harm in trying. It won’t be a huge hit to their salary cap, and it’s not a long-term commitment for the Jets. It’s a win-win.