Davante Adams trade to the Jets being finalized, source confirms
Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders. Credit: Getty Images/Ethan Miller
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams got their wish. They’re teammates again with the Jets.
The Jets are acquiring Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, pending a physical, a league source said. The Jets are sending a conditional third-round pick to Las Vegas for the six-time Pro Bowl receiver, who requested a trade two weeks ago.
The Raiders were seeking a return that started with a second-round pick. That’s a steep price for a disgruntled 31-year-old player. The conditional pick can become a second-rounder. The Jets reportedly are also paying Adams’ remaining salary.
Adams, who has missed the Raiders' last three games with a hamstring injury, has roughly $11.6 million remaining on his contract this season. The Jets can fit his salary into their payroll because they’re about $17 million under the cap. His cap numbers the next two years total $72.5 million, but none of it is guaranteed.
This move will make Rodgers happy, and it shows that the Jets are all-in for this year and want to do everything possible to break their 13-year playoff drought, at the minimum.
The Jets opened the season believing they could contend for a Super Bowl with the roster they assembled. Things haven’t gone as they expected. The Jets are 2-4, Robert Saleh was fired last week and they’ve changed offensive play callers.
Adams could help an offense that needs a boost. The Jets have dropped their last three games – all by less than a touchdown.
They moved the ball better on Monday night with Todd Downing calling in the plays instead of Nathaniel Hackett. But they were just 1-for-4 on red zone opportunities in their three-point loss to Buffalo. Kicker Greg Zuerlein missed two second-half field goals.
Rodgers and Adams played together for eight years with Green Bay and formed one of the most unstoppable quarterback-receiver duos in the NFL. Adams averaged 84 catches, 1,015 yards and nine touchdowns per season with the Packers. Rodgers won three of his four MVP Awards playing with Adams.
It’s no secret that the two wanted to play together again. Both expressed as much this year.
Over the summer, Rodgers said, “I love Davante. I can’t wait to play with him … again,” at a golf tournament. Adams said he missed Rodgers during an appearance on “Up and Adams with Kay Adams,” last week.
“How could you not?” Davante Adams said. “You know, how could you not?”
The Jets were Adams’ first choice when he made his trade request. The Jets tried to trade for Adams last year, but the Raiders weren’t interested then.
Adams has been frustrated with losing in Las Vegas. He made it known he wanted a change of scenery.
His frustration had been brewing since the Raiders parted ways with Derek Carr in 2023. Carr and Adams played together at Fresno State. Adams left Green Bay in 2022 to reconnect with his college teammate.
The Saints were a team that Adams would have been willing to go to, that way he and Carr could play together again. Instead, Adams is rejoining the quarterback with whom he’s had the most success.
The Jets’ receiver room features Garrett Wilson, another former Packer Allen Lazard and Mike Williams. It’s possible the Jets now could try to move Williams, who left Monday’s game with a head injury. They signed Williams in the offseason to a one-year, $10 million deal.
Rodgers and Adams have proven they have great chemistry. Rodgers and Wilson have been clicking the last two weeks. Wilson should get far less attention from defenses with Adams on the field with him.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
