The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms on a two-year, $29.5 million contract extension with wide receiver Robby Anderson, per Ian Rapoport. The contract will reportedly see Anderson earn more guaranteed money than he was set to previously receive, and the new deal will keep him in Carolina through the 2023 campaign.

On paper, this looks like a major win for both sides. Carolina locks in one of their most productive weapons for the foreseeable future and Anderson, who initially signed a two-year, $20 million deal with Carolina ahead of the 2020 season, gets to earn more money over the next couple of years. Anderson is coming off a personal-best campaign, his first as a Panther, after setting career-highs in catches (96) and receiving yards (1,096). It was the first time Anderson crossed the 1,000-receiving-yard threshold in his career.

This extension represents a sigh of relief for all parties involved ahead of Carolina’s regular-season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 12. Anderson was in line for a new deal after outperforming everyone’s expectations in 2020, and first-year general manager Scott Fritterer has now rewarded Anderson for his efforts.

A two-year extension typically comes with low risk, and once you factor in that Anderson has played in 78 of a possible 80 games during his first five years in the NFL, this deal seems like a no-brainer. Anderson is a proven performer and one of the most exciting receivers in the league. His ability to take the top off the defense is matched by very few of his counterparts. As Carolina attempts to resurrect the career of Sam Darnold, surrounding their new signal-caller with proven weapons for the foreseeable future is the right move. Anderson may be the happiest man in Carolina right now, but Darnold should be a not-so-distanced second.

With fellow receiver D.J. Moore signed through 2022 and face-of-the-franchise running back Christian McCaffrey inked through the 2025 season, there is no question who Darnold’s top three targets will be over the next few years. It’s something that was rarely the case for Darnold in New York. If Carolina is going to take a chance on Darnold, and they clearly are, then they have to give him the best chance to succeed. This Anderson extension speaks volumes for their commitment to doing just that.

If Anderson can replicate the form we saw from him a year ago, then there’s no denying that Carolina made the right decision here. We’re excited to look back on how this extension worked out following the upcoming season.