Get to know new Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Robbie Anderson

The Arizona Cardinals acquired wide receiver Robbie Anderson from the Carolina Panthers on Monday, reportedly for a sixth-round pick in 2024 and a seventh in 2025.

The trade was announced just moments before ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown suffered a “potentially season-ending” foot injury on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Anderson, 29, struggled in six games for the Panthers this season. In 27 targets, the Temple product hauled in 13 receptions for 206 yards and a touchdown. However, he has eight receptions for 104 yards since Week 2.

On Sunday, Anderson played 52% of offensive snaps in a 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He then got sent to the locker room by interim Panthers coach and former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks.

That said, Anderson accompanies DeAndre Hopkins’ return as a major reinforcement for a Cardinals offense that’s tied for 18th in passing touchdowns and remains the only team without a passing play of 40 or more yards.

With that in mind, here are four facts about the newest Cardinals wide receiver.

He’s a speed threat

Though Anderson didn’t participate in the 2016 NFL Draft Combine, he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Only five players posted faster times at the combine, with Will Fuller (4.32) as the only wide receiver.

At the NFL level, Anderson’s speed has helped him average 13.8 yards per reception. Among 46 players with at least 250 receptions since 2016, Anderson is seventh in that category. Though he’s 30th in receptions in that span, he averages more yards per reception than Hopkins, as well as Odell Beckham Jr., Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams.

Most of his damage comes before the catch

As more of a vertical threat, Anderson does the bulk of his work before the ball is in his hands.

Since 2018, the 29-year-old averages just 4.2 yards after the catch versus 8.5 before.

He’s the antithesis of current Cardinals slot receiver Rondale Moore, who averages 7.8 yards after the catch for his career against 0.2 before.

He was a 1,000-yard receiver

With 1,096 yards in 2020, Anderson now gives quarterback Kyler Murray four active pass-catchers with at least one 1,000-yard season under their belt.

The others are receiver Hopkins and A.J. Green, as well as tight end Zach Ertz.

Anderson also has four seasons of at least 700 yards despite playing with 11 starting quarterbacks.

The 11 starting quarterbacks:

Ryan Fitzpatrick
Bryce Petty
Geno Smith
Josh McCown
Sam Darnold
Luke Falk
Trevor Siemian
Teddy Bridgewater
P.J. Walker
Cam Newton
Baker Mayfield

Bold indicates a first-round draft pick.

Murray will be Anderson’s fifth first-round pick at quarterback

Among the 11 starters Anderson has played alongside, four have been first-round picks, with Murray set to become the fifth.

Anderson’s best season was in 2020, where he had his 1,096-yard season as the No. 2 receiver for 2014 first-round pick Bridgewater.

Murray is also the third No. 1 overall selection Anderson will receive passes from. Mayfield started five of Anderson’s six games in Carolina this year and Newton started five games for the Panthers in 2021.

Darnold, Anderson’s teammate with both the New York Jets and Panthers, gives Anderson four quarterback teammates who were top-10 picks, once Murray and Anderson play together.