The Washington Redskins today signed wide receiver Andre Roberts, 26, according to the Washington Post. Roberts, who played his first four season with the Arizona Cardinals, becomes the first substantial free agent signing of this offseason.
The Redskins needed help at the wide receiver position, with Santana Moss aging and tight end Jordan Reed just coming into his own after a strong rookie season. New Head Coach Jay Gruden and the Redskins front office acted quickly to give Robert Griffin III a more reliable receiver.
The terms of the deal are not available, but Roberts made approximately $1.3 million last year with the Cardinals, according to spotrac.com. It was the last year of his four-year rookie contract he signed after being draft in the third round, out of the Citadel.
In his first three years, Roberts made $320,000, $454,000 and $540,000 while catching 139 passes for 1,652 yards.
Roberts had his best year in 2012, when he grabbed 64 receptions for 759 yards and five touchdowns, playing behind Larry Fitzgerald. Last year, he played in every game, but saw his numbers drop to 43 receptions and 471 yards.
Roberts was a factor in the return game in 2010, taking 34 punts and 14 kickoffs over 15 games. However, with the emergence of Patrick Peterson, his services weren’t as necessary.
The move will certainly upgrade what the Redskins have in the No. 2 wide receiver spot, as well as add depth to the group. However, this signing could mean the end of the road for Moss in Washington, unless he accepts the No. 3 receiver role. Moss, a free agent, look elsewhere and end his nine-year term with Washington.
According to ESPN, the Redskins also had interest in wide receivers Kenny Britt and Andrew Hawkins. It is not known whether there is still interest, but the team has many other holes to fill, including offensive line and secondary.
In terms of fantasy, Roberts has the potential to repeat the numbers he put up in 2012, where he garnered praise as one of the game’s best No. 2 receivers. Look for Roberts to catch over 50 passes for 500-1,000 yards. He could valuable in deep leagues that feature two receiver spots.