One day after his noteworthy mid-game exit, many expected Panthers wideout Robbie Anderson to be suiting up for a new team in the very near future. To little surprise, Carolina has indeed moved on, trading him to the Cardinals (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Panthers will receive a 2024 sixth-round pick, along with a seventh-rounder in 2025. 
Anderson was sent to the locker room by interim head coach Steve Wilks after multiple heated exchanges on the sidelines. The incident was precipitated by Anderson being taken off the field prior to a third-down play, something which led to him saying after the game that he was “confused” by the move. While he publicly stated that he would be willing to remain in Carolina, it was widely expected that Sunday’s loss to the Rams would mark his final game with the Panthers.
The former UDFA spent four years with the Jets to begin his career. His prowess as a deep threat (averaging 14.8 yards per catch), along with his chemistry with Sam Darnold, led to heightened expectations upon his arrival in Carolina. Reunited with Matt Rhule, his coach at Temple, Anderson posted career-highs in receptions (95) and yards (1,046) in 2020.
The 29-year-old has not been able to match those totals since, however. Last season, Anderson’s receiving totals fell to 519 yards; in 2022, he has posted 206 on 13 catches. Especially after Rhule was fired last week, then, Anderson began to be shopped by the Panthers and was considered a likely trade candidate. As Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelisero tweets, the Cardinals will be responsible for the remaining $690K in Anderson’s 2022 salary, though he is also under contract for next year at a cap hit of $21.7MM.
From Arizona’s perspective, this move provides depth to a WR room which is in flux. All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins is set to return from his PED suspension, which is expected to provide a significant boost to the team’s offense. However, top deep threat Marquise Brown was seen in a walking boot after yesterday’s loss to the Seahawks, leaving his availability in the short-term future in question. Schefter notes that further testing will be required later today to determine the extent of the offseason trade acquisition’s absence (Twitter link).
With a notable role seemingly available for him right away, Anderson can begin his Arizona tenure as early as this Thursday against the Saints. Given the Cardinals’ struggles finding consistency on offense, he could play a part in stabilizing the team’s passing game while looking to rebuild his value.
They traded him for a hairstylist to be named later.
Probably scared to admit it was a conditional late rounder
Oh cool, another fast guy for Kingsbury to use with the least amount of creativity or unpredictability possible. Maybe Anderson can be the angel of coach death, going from team to team getting the worst coaches in the league fired.
“I believe you know why I’m here…”
I think it’s a Thursday game, not Sunday
That was quick
Trash needs to be disposed of in a timely manner
dude, call it a career and go back to you first true love … managing The Island Boys
I do not understand the logic of acquiring players for half year rentals, but maybe that’s just me.
Anderson is there because Brown is out. Hopkins is coming back sooner rather than later, and the Cardinals still have Hopkins at about $20 million in 2023. Brown will be at about $13-14 million next year, but that’s his fifth year option and he will certainly want a new deal. Even if Arizona backloads his contract, that will push his hit to compete with later hits for Hopkins and whomever else they retain at that point. Anderson has a $12 million hit next year. Rondale Moore and A.J. Green are currently on the roster. We don’t know how their availability will be this year, but I don’t think Green is missing the season. Moore is going to need a new deal soon to keep him in the fold, though we all expect Green to walk. And then there’s Murray’s hit to consider next year, at $16 million, before it balloons to $60 million in 2024.
Most of these receivers will be gone by then, so the longest Arizona would conceivably have Anderson is a year and a half. It just seems that the Cardinals are setting up to have to trade Hopkins away next year, unless they traded all of these picks for Brown and Anderson for short term rentals.
Immediately sent him the hell out of there. His interview after the game with his hair looked like a key and Peele sketch