The Carolina Panthers have traded away a notable name from the Matt Rhule era.
On Monday, the Panthers sent wideout Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick, a league source confirmed to the Charlotte Observer. Anderson seemingly confirmed the trade a few minutes before the Panthers’ announcement by acknowledging an initial report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Anderson was removed from the Panthers’ sideline ahead of the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Interim head coach Steve Wilks decided to send Anderson to the locker room following a couple of sideline spats with wide receivers coach Joe Dailey.
“It was a sideline-type situation that I felt like I wanted to try to get him in (the locker room) at the moment, and that’s something that we’ll discuss as we further get into the week,” Wilks said.
Following the game, Anderson said he didn’t want to be traded. Wilks noted, in reference to Anderson’s in-game dismissal, that no one person is bigger than the entire team. Ultimately, the Panthers decided to move on from Anderson after shopping him in the wake of Rhule’s firing.
The trade creates roughly $9.7 million in dead cap money for the Panthers over the next two years. However, the Panthers are off the hook for Anderson’s $12 million salary in 2023. Anderson is set to make $8.8 million in base salary next year with another $3.2 million coming through roster bonuses.
Anderson played for the Panthers throughout the Rhule era, reuniting with his college head coach in 2020 after a four-year run with the New York Jets.
During his two-plus years in Carolina, Anderson caught 161 passes for 1,821 yards and nine touchdowns. He caught 13 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown through five games this season.
With Anderson heading to Cardinals, the Panthers’ have a wideout depth chart that features DJ Moore, Terrace Marshall Jr., Shi Smith, Laviska Shenault and Rashard Higgins Jr. Anderson’s departure could also open up a door for playing time for practice-squad wideout Derek Wright, who was elevated to main roster in Week 5’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Anderson will join the Cardinals as the squad’s potential fill-in for Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who sustained a foot injury in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He will provide support for quarterback Kyler Murray in the passing game, as the Cardinals attempt to make turn things around after a 2-4 start.
