A trade involving wide receiver Davante Adams is expected in the coming weeks, if not days. The New York Jets are considered one of the favorites to land the three-time First-Team All-Pro wideout after it was reported he ‘preferred to be traded’ from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Some NFL fans would say the Jets are all-in this season, but they have one more chip to fall before that can come to fruition. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been recruiting his former Green Bay Packers teammate. Adams has reportedly expressed his interest in a reunion with Rodgers.
The Jets have supplied Rodgers with plenty of firepower and would push all of their chips in if they acquired Adams via trade. New York is on a timeline with the 40-year-old signal-caller. Rodgers is the oldest player in the NFL, and if they didn’t acquire Adams, the roster built by Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh could be considered half-measured.
Adams spoke on his feelings toward joining forces with Rodgers again this past offseason on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. “If I’m gonna be reunited with anybody, it would be Aaron,’ he said.
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With the Jets considered a realistic landing spot for Adams, here’s a look at how he fits with New York and the fantasy football implications that would come with it.
Davante Adams fit with the Jets
The chemistry on the field between Rodgers and Adams is undeniable. They played eight seasons together in Green Bay. In his last three healthy seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay, Adams finished with at least 100 receptions, 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Leading up to Week 5, Rodgers and his current No. 1 wide receiver, Garrett Wilson, had struggled to get in sync. Wilson has caught 58.9% of his targets this season. Meanwhile, Adams averaged catching 75% of his targets over his final two seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay.
Wilson is in his third NFL season after the Jets selected him with the 10th overall pick in 2022. Wilson had his best performance with Rodgers against the Vikings in Week 5, catching 13 of a whopping 22 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown. Still, Rodgers has been outspoken about how teams have defended Wilson early on.
Following the Jets’ first three games, Rodgers said, ‘The entire focus of all three defenses we’ve played has been taking Garrett away.’ Teams have shaded safety coverage to the side of the field Wilson is lined up on, forcing Rodgers to work to his secondary receivers like Allen Lazard.
Lazard was brought to New York similarly because Rodgers wanted to play with receivers he was familiar with from his time in Green Bay. He played three full seasons alongside Adams in Green Bay. Lazard currently leads the Jets with four touchdowns and has at least eight targets in three of five games.
Lazard would fall to third on the depth chart if Adams were brought to New York.
One aspect of Adams’ potential addition that can’t be overlooked is the stress he can put on a defense. With Adams and Wilson on the field, opposing coordinators would no longer be able to dial up consistent double coverage on the Jets receivers.
Adams is familiar with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was the OC during Adams’ final three seasons in Green Bay. Adams would immediately be familiar with the Jets’ current playbook, making a midseason addition to the offense seamless for the vet.
Best WR duos in NFL
Some of the top teams in the NFL have dynamic duos at wide receiver. The Jets would be among the best if they acquired Adams to pair with Wilson.
They would join the ranks of some of the best wide receiver duos in the league, like Philadelphia’s AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
Jets can trade Mike Williams
The Raiders have notified teams they will not accept anything less than a second-round pick for Adams. In the offseason, the Jets signed veteran wide receiver Mike Williams to add another weapon to the offense. Williams is returning from a torn ACL he suffered in 2023 and hasn’t exceeded playing 71% of snaps this season.
The Jets’ Week 5 loss to the Vikings in London displayed a lack of chemistry between Williams and Rodgers. New York was driving deep into Minnesota territory, and time was winding down when Rodgers launched a throw down the sideline to Williams, who wasn’t on the same page. Stephon Gilmore intercepted the pass inside the 10-yard line.
Williams was drafted in 2017 by current Raiders general manager Tom Telesco while he was the Los Angeles Chargers GM. The Jets could offer Williams in a trade with the Raiders or ship him off to another team that needs a receiver.
One thing is for certain: The Jets are motivated to win now, and the offense could take flight with the addition of Adams.
Davante Adams contract details
Adams’ salary for this season is $17.5 million, with $13.5 million still owed through the end of the season. And while he is under contract for 2025 and 2026, his annual salary is $36.25 million each season.
The Jets have more than $17.1 million in salary cap space. After a potential trade, New York would likely have to get Adams to agree to a restructured contract.