Davante Adams has gotten the trade he has wanted.
Today, the Las Vegas Raiders traded the disgruntled star wide receiver to the New York Jets for a conditional 2025 3rd-round pick. The selection can turn into a 2nd-round pick if Adams makes the all-pro team or is active for the NFC championship game or the Super Bowl.
The Jets had been rumored to be the favorites for Adam’s services for weeks. The Jets were looking for anyone to try to help end New York’s 13-year playoff drought, the longest active streak in the league. Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had a so-called “amazing” relationship with Adams since their Green Bay days. With these two factors at the forefront, Owner Woody Johnson snapped his fingers and got the move finalized.
In this piece, I will examine how this blockbuster trade affects all parties involved. Do the Jets improve with Adams? Where does this leave the Raiders? Time to break it down!
The New York Jets Side
The Jets were clearly still in a mood to make changes and make national headlines.
Just last week, Head Coach Robert Saleh was fired after the Jets’ loss in London against the Vikings, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich got the chance to run the show. Embattled Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted from play-calling duties and was replaced with Passing Game Coordinator Todd Downing, a former OC who had experience calling the offense with other franchises.
With these changes, the Jets were looking to get back to .500 on Monday Night Football versus divisional rival Buffalo. Instead of a feel-good win, they lost in embarrassing fashion highlighted by multiple missed field goal attempts and a late-game interception thrown by Rodgers. Owner Johnson, who was determined to not let this season slip away, quickly finalized the deal for Adams and got it completed today.
Does Adams help the Jets chances to win? Potentially! As previously stated, Rodgers and Adams have played eight years together with the Packers and that chemistry can not be overstated. They have been on the same page for many years, being one of the top QB/WR duos in the NFL during large stretches of their careers. Rodgers has not had that same kind of rapport in New York with the young firecracker Garrett Wilson, veteran Mike Williams, or even Allen Lazard who had experience with Rodgers before. The core had struggled with running the routes that Rodgers wanted, leading to confusion, plays not being made, and even turnovers.
There is also a world, however, where this acquisition won’t matter because the team has deep-rooted issues that no one star can fix. Downing didn’t appear to be much of an upgrade over Hackett during large parts of the Buffalo game and still has a lot to prove. The defense took a huge step back in the first game without Saleh being around to supervise. The offensive line has been leaky, and adding Adams does not change that equation. New York just may be a below-average team this year, no matter how many times Johnson tries to give them a life preserver.
It’s a risk, but with everyone’s job on the line this season, it’s a risk worth taking to try to salvage this team that had sky-high expectations.
The Las Vegas Raiders Side
The Raiders had to be happy to get Adams off their chest.
Las Vegas is in a rebuild. Head Coach Antonio Pierce is starting his first full year at the helm with veteran GM Tom Telesco by his side to start to fix up a downtrodden organization.
One of their biggest problems that was preventing them from trying to set the groundwork was Adams. He was in no mood for a rebuild and had previous hard feelings from the Raiders letting go of former starting quarterback Derek Carr, who was a close friend of Adams’ since their days at Fresno State. Not long into the start of the 2024 season, the six-time pro bowler promptly requested a trade.
Telesco looked to move Adams to any interested buyer and found a pairing with the Jets. They agreed to the deal in which Las Vegas received the conditional 2025 3rd-round pick.
I do not believe the pick will convey to a 2nd rounder, unfortunately. With Adams sitting out to start the year and the Jets’ current record of 2-4, it remains unlikely that either of the reported conditions will occur. There is a chance, but I wouldn’t like chances at a casino.
Still, the pick will provide more value to Telesco and the Raiders, in order to get this storied team on track. Adams and his sulking were doing no favors in the locker room, and this pick could also help them land their next franchise quarterback in a trade-up scenario. Las Vegas could also consider trading their other star player in defensive end Maxx Crosby, who would be the best pass rusher on the trade block and the Raiders could get massive compensation, and should at least toy with the idea.
Brock Bowers should get a lot of touches now as the clear best target on the team. His potential is endless and has a chance to be a top 10 tight end right away as a heavily featured piece in the Raider offense.
Overall, it may take some time to see results, but the trade will help Las Vegas reset and focus on developing their young talent, instead of worrying over a player who is clearly not pleased in Sin City.
