Jets signing WR Breshad Perriman in Robby Anderson fallout

The Jets lost their top wide receiver Tuesday, but wasted no time finding his replacement. Top free agent Robby Anderson departed Tuesday afternoon — agreeing to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Panthers that will pay him $12 million in the first year, according to a source. The spot did not remain open long, …

The Jets lost their top wide receiver Tuesday, but wasted no time finding his replacement.

Top free agent Robby Anderson departed Tuesday afternoon — agreeing to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Panthers that will pay him $12 million in the first year, according to a source.

The spot did not remain open long, though, with the Jets agreeing to a deal with free-agent wide receiver Breshad Perriman hours later on a one-year deal worth up to $8 million, with $6 million guaranteed, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

Quarterback Sam Darnold loses one of his favorite targets in Anderson, who will reunite with his college coach Matt Rhule in Carolina.

The Jets will hope Perriman can replace Anderson’s production. The two had similar stat lines last season, and Perriman did it with less playing time with the Buccaneers.

Perriman, 26, had 36 catches for 645 yards and six touchdowns for the Bucs, averaging 17.9 yards per reception in 14 games and receiving just 56 percent of the snaps. Anderson, also 26, had 52 catches for 779 yards and five touchdowns for the Jets in 16 games, receiving 91 percent of the snaps.

Perriman can also replace the speed element lost with Anderson’s departure. When he was coming out of Central Florida in 2015, one scout clocked him at 4.19 in the 40-yard-dash at his Pro Day.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas was still a Ravens scout when the team drafted Perriman in the first round in 2015. Perriman did not pan out with the Ravens, struggling with injuries and ineffective play during his three seasons there. Baltimore cut him before the 2018 season. He spent time with the Redskins and Browns before joining the Buccaneers last season.

With Tampa Bay, he did not play much early in the year, but came on in the final five weeks. He had 25 catches for 506 yards and five touchdowns in that five-game stretch.

The departure of Anderson was somewhat surprising. As the days dragged on in free agency, it seemed more likely he would return. The Jets had hoped to re-sign him, but at their price. Carolina clearly valued him more.

The Jets signed Anderson, 26, as an undrafted free agent in 2016 out of Temple, where Rhule was his coach. He played 62 games, starting 47 in four years. He had 207 catches for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns.

His best season came in 2017 when he had 63 catches for 941 yards and seven touchdowns.

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The Jets top receivers are now Perriman, Jamison Crowder, Quincy Enunwa, Josh Doctson and Vyncint Smith. They also have tight ends Chris Herndon and Ryan Griffin, and running back Le’Veon Bell caught 66 passes last season.

The Jets will likely add another receiver in the draft, which is loaded at the position. They might go offensive tackle with the first pick, but they could target a receiver on Day 2 of the draft.

The chance to play for Rhule was something Anderson acknowledged was appealing to him back in January. Anderson missed a year at Temple because of academic ineligibility. Rhule let him return the next year.

“He’s a great coach. I texted him not too long ago and I thanked him,” Anderson said the day after the Jets’ season ended. “He fought and believed in me. He put his name on the line to make me get that second chance and get right.”

Now, he will be reunited with Rhule. He also will be catching passes from Teddy Bridgewater, who spent a brief time with the Jets in the 2018 offseason.