4 pros and cons to the Panthers trading Robby Anderson in 2022

Carolina Panthers might not get good value

There was speculation linking Robby Anderson with a potential trade away from the team last year during the 2021 NFL Draft. This didn’t amount to anything more than rumors and the Carolina Panthers not only kept him around but also extended the player for two more years after he went over 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career.

Anderson was not able to hit anywhere near these heights last season and he cut a frustrated figure throughout most of the campaign. There was a brief moment where the player looked like his old self when Cam Newton made his bombshell return, even if this didn’t amount to much upturn in terms of production on the field.

This presents the Panthers with a potential complication if Anderson outlines his desire to be traded. Teams will know the player is unhappy and considering his poor season in 2021, they might be able to get him for minimal compensation.

A trade partner also has to take on Anderson’s contract, which isn’t guaranteed beyond the 2022 season. Carolina could have avoided this by letting the wideout’s contract run out – but there was no legislating for such a steep drop in numbers.

Anderson and Sam Darnold clearly weren’t on the same page despite working together previously on the New York Jets. Although the Panthers could be poised to make yet another quarterback splash this offseason, there is also a chance they move forward with the USC product and his $18.85 million guaranteed salary.

That won’t go unnoticed by Anderson, who has been impacted more than most by Darnold’s erratic distribution throughout his career.