Upon the completion of his fourth season in the NFL, Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson is set to hit free agency, leaving general manager Joe Douglas with a decision to make.
Anderson was the Jets' second-leading receiver on the 2019 season, a big-play threat with 52 receptions for 779 yards (15.0 average) and five touchdowns in 16 games (15 starts).
After becoming a restricted free agent at the end of the 2018 season, Anderson signed a one-year contract at roughly $3 million. Will he remain with the Jets or explore his options elsewhere?
Part of the answer boils down to what Douglas and the Jets do.
New York is locked into the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and can sift through other free agents on the market -- hired in June, Douglas has a full offseason to work with for the first time.
But if Douglas' comments at Tuesday's end-of-year press conference were any indication, New York views Anderson with high regard.
"I had a great conversation with Robby...he knows how valued he is here" pic.twitter.com/QCbfX3Mb9V
- Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 31, 2019
"I can't say enough good things about Robby," Douglas said. "Obviously, so much frustration at the beginning of the year. And I'm sure Robby was as frustrated as any player, being a contract year for him. But the person, the teammate he was -- he perservered.
"He had a fantastic year, especially down the stretch. All year, he was getting open. And I think (head) coach (Adam) Gase alluded to it a few times -- he just couldn't get him the ball. And we were able to get him the ball. We got it to him down the stretch, late, he was making contested catches.
"I had a great conversation with Robby. Won't get into the specifics of it. But he knows -- he knows how valued he is here and we'll discuss him later as well."