Jets commerce for Davante Adams, reuniting star WR with Aaron Rodgers

By Dianna Russini, Zack Rosenblatt, Tashan Reed, Vic Tafur and Jake Ciely

Only one week after the Jets made a change at coach, firing Robert Saleh 5 video games into his fourth season, New York made a second vital transfer, buying broad receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, the groups introduced Tuesday.

“As a child from East Palo Alto who grew up a Raiders fan, the previous three years have been each an honor and achievement of a childhood dream,” Adams posted on Instagram following the commerce. “I got here to Las Vegas with the intention of bringing a championship to the town and have cherished each alternative to play with that continued pursuit in thoughts. … From Oakland to Las Vegas, Raider Nation has and can all the time be a part of my household.”

The Raiders will obtain a conditional third-round decide that may change into a second-round decide primarily based on Adams’ efficiency, league sources stated. Particularly, the conditional third rounder turns into a second rounder if Adams makes first-team or second-team All-Professional, or if Adams is on the lively roster for the AFC Championship Recreation or the Tremendous Bowl, in line with a league supply.

The Raiders are usually not paying down Adams’ base wage, in line with a crew supply. His remaining base wage is about $11.59 million, per Over the Cap.

A lot of the commerce was agreed to earlier than the Jets’ recreation towards the Buffalo Payments on Monday, and Adams flew to New Jersey that night time, league sources stated.

The transfer reunites Adams with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The 2 fashioned one of many final decade’s most prolific quarterback-wide receiver duos whereas enjoying for the Inexperienced Bay Packers. In 2014 as a rookie, Adams caught Rodgers’ 2 hundredth landing go. In 2020, he caught Rodgers’ four-hundredth landing go. Over eight years with the Packers, they related on 67 different touchdowns and 622 completions for 7,590 yards in 108 video games.

It’s a transfer that feels prefer it’s been within the works because the Jets acquired Rodgers from Inexperienced Bay in April 2023. When the quarterback arrived, he listed Adams as one of many gamers he’d just like the Jets so as to add, together with another former Packers (like Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, who they did signal) and Odell Beckham Jr. It didn’t come to fruition then, however as Adams’ happiness in Las Vegas disintegrated and he requested a commerce in current weeks, the Jets jumped to the forefront.

“He’s made me look good loads of instances,” Rodgers stated of Adams throughout a Tuesday look on “The Pat McAfee Present,” including: “We positively obtained higher right now.”

A six-time Professional Bowler and three-time All-Professional, the 31-year-old Adams stays elite, as evidenced by his nine-catch, 110-yard outburst within the Raiders’ Week 2 upset in Baltimore. However his finest years got here when Rodgers was throwing him the ball. Behind the scenes, Rodgers was pushing the Jets to amass Adams, and normal supervisor Joe Douglas referred to as the Raiders at a number of factors — commerce deadline final yr, this offseason — to test in however Las Vegas wasn’t desirous about transferring him.

After the deal, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson referenced Adams’ expertise with Rodgers as a motivation to finish the deal.

“We all know that they’ve performed collectively,” Johnson stated. “I believe anybody can be desirous about taking a look at this gentleman. He has a confirmed ability, that’s for positive.”

Johnson stated Adams “provides to all the things” within the Jets offense and the receiver’s relationship with Rodgers is “essential.”

The proprietor went on to elucidate his rationality for his crew’s large modifications in current weeks and the way he believes it should change the course of their 2024 season.

“Considering is overrated,” Johnson stated when requested how rapidly he thinks the Jets can flip round their season. “It’s a must to look ahead. It’s a must to sit up for the video games we’re going to play each week and attempt to win all of them. That’s fundamental stuff.”

Johnson went on to cite a line from the film “Talladega Nights” spoken to Will Ferrell’s character Ricky Bobby.

“Keep in mind that one scene when he stated ‘You’re not a thinker, you’re a driver.’ Proper? And loads of instances it’s, you simply need to go along with your instincts and what’s the most effective factor to construct a successful crew however most significantly construct a tradition of successful. I believe primarily based on what I noticed yesterday, we’re beginning in a brand new and thrilling route.”

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Adams was annoyed on the Raiders’ quarterback play final season — from slamming his helmet to the turf in a Monday night time recreation and saying that Jimmy Garoppolo was going to get him killed on the Netflix documentary “Receiver.” Sources say he was upset when the teaching workers went with Gardner Minshew over Aidan O’Connell because the starter to open this season; Adams felt O’Connell, who supplanted Minshew atop the depth chart in Week 6, was the higher passer.

In July, Adams stated there was a “contemporary slate,” however was there? He left the Raiders throughout coaching camp for the delivery of his first son, and whereas the crew thought it might be only for a few days, Adams was gone for 10. When he got here again, he stated he didn’t need to play within the second preseason recreation. Pierce stated everybody wholesome would play, however Adams didn’t go well with up as a consequence of soreness.

Pierce, it seems, was shocked when Adams referred to as a gathering with the coach on Sept. 30, in line with league sources. Adams instructed Pierce he wished to be traded to a greater crew. The Raiders instructed Adams they’d grant his want, as they don’t need gamers who don’t need to be there.

Pierce was requested final week the place issues with Adams went sideways.

“I don’t know,” Pierce stated. “I believe you’ve obtained to ask Davante that.”

When Las Vegas despatched first- and second-round picks to the Packers in 2022, it was coming off a playoff berth and thought Adams gave the crew a shot at a Tremendous Bowl. The Raiders are 16-24 since then, and final October they fired the final supervisor (Dave Ziegler) and head coach (Josh McDaniels) who have been in place when Adams arrived. A giant purpose Adams wished to play with the Raiders within the first place was to reunite with Derek Carr, his quarterback at Fresno State. The 2 performed 15 video games collectively in 2022, and Adams noticed a career-high 180 targets, main the league in receiving touchdowns (15) and ending with the second-most receiving yards of his profession (1,516). However the Raiders launched Carr, selecting to go together with Garoppolo to begin 2023. Garoppolo, McDaniels’ quarterback of alternative, was benched final season and launched in March.

Adams has missed the final three video games with a hamstring harm — his final snap with the franchise got here in a loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. The Raiders’ prime three receivers transferring ahead shall be Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and DJ Turner.

Showing alongside Rodgers for a portion of the quarterback’s weekly “The Pat McAfee Present” look on Tuesday, Adams recommended he’s wholesome and able to contribute instantly: “I’m feeling nice, I used to be working with the workers in Vegas the entire time they usually obtained me proper, so I’ll be able to roll… we should always have the ability to decide up the place we left off.”

The holdup to any Adams commerce was the Raiders’ insistence on getting again a second-round decide (which they compromised on) plus the buying crew paying the whole thing of Adams’ remaining 2024 wage (which they didn’t). The New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers additionally inquired about buying the star receiver, whereas the Payments have been monitoring the scenario.

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When Adams turned formally accessible, the Jets virtually immediately expressed curiosity, although there was some reticence because of the monetary side of a commerce.

On the sector, Adams’ match is clear and sensical, however it might be a stretch to say he solves the entire Jets’ issues, even when he’ll pair with Garrett Wilson to type one of many NFL’s most proficient broad receiver duos.

In 2020 — the primary of Rodgers’ back-to-back MVP seasons — Adams instructed ESPN that Rodgers “is the most effective quarterback within the NFL, and I’m the most effective broad receiver within the NFL. And the best way that we jell, I don’t suppose that anyone else is doing it fairly like us.”

Davante Adams is headed to New York to attempt to salvage the Jets playoff hopes.

My mannequin has the Adams commerce growing the Jets playoff odds by 7%.

Odds might be discovered right here:@TheAthleticNFLhttps://t.co/3Em2zy53fQ pic.twitter.com/iVRqURFpG3

— Austin Mock (@amock419) October 15, 2024

However Rodgers is now not the most effective quarterback within the NFL. In Week 5 in London he had his worst recreation as a Jet, and one of many worst of his profession, the primary time he’s ever thrown two interceptions within the first quarter and solely the sixth time in 235 video games he’s thrown three interceptions in a recreation. He’s nonetheless proven flashes of his signature arm expertise and talent to make performs on the transfer, however he’s banged up — he suffered a low ankle sprain within the Week 5 loss to the Vikings — and generally performs like his age.

The Jets are breaking in a first-time (interim) head coach in Jeff Ulbrich. They’ve a tricky stretch of the schedule developing; after Monday’s house loss to the Payments, they journey to Pittsburgh in Week 7 and, after a visit to Foxboro, host a Thursday night time house recreation towards the Houston Texans on a brief week.

Adams, Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett had nice success collectively in Inexperienced Bay in 2019-21, however that calculus additionally concerned Packers coach Matt LaFleur calling performs, not Hackett — and Hackett, whereas nonetheless on the workers, is now not calling performs with the Jets. Ulbrich stripped Hackett of his play-calling duties and changed him with passing recreation coordinator Todd Downing, who was the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator in 2021-22. Downing’s first recreation as offensive coordinator was Monday night time towards the Payments, and the offense appeared higher, however removed from elite.

There’s additionally the matter of Wilson. The Jets’ younger star obtained off to a sluggish begin this season and had appeared visibly annoyed as his chemistry with Rodgers didn’t ignite over the primary 4 video games. How will the younger receiver, not one to cover his feelings or frustration, really feel about Rodgers’ finest buddy becoming a member of the crew and changing into his favourite goal?

In fact, Adams becoming a member of the fray ought to make life simpler on Wilson, particularly since defenses will now not have the ability to divert all their protection consideration to at least one receiver. Wilson struggled to win matchups towards opponents’ No. 1 corners by 4 video games. Groups can’t double Wilson anymore if Adams is on the opposite aspect, and Rodgers all the time says he’ll throw it to whoever is open. However Wilson is not going to be the Jets’ No. 1 receiver so long as Adams is round and Rodgers is the quarterback — and Wilson is eligible for a contract extension for the primary time this upcoming offseason. It’s a scenario, and a relationship, value watching.

On the finish of the day, Adams makes the Jets offense higher. Wilson, Adams, Lazard and Mike Williams type a large receiver quartet with vital potential. With a top quality operating again pairing in Breece Corridor and rookie Braelon Allen, and stable play from tight finish Tyler Conklin, the Jets have the items for a high-powered offense.

Plus, Rodgers is 16 touchdowns in need of 500 for his profession. Now Adams can catch that one too.

Fantasy impression of the commerce

The Adams commerce is sweet information for Rodgers however unhealthy information for Wilson. In Week 5, Wilson’s outrageous 22 targets become the second-lowest yardage whole (101) for any receiver with 20-plus targets in a recreation (since 2000). Wilson noticed 10 extra targets in Week 6, and now Adams will are available as Rodgers’ prime choice.

Lazard and his rapport with Rodgers — notably within the crimson zone — received’t go away both. Which means Adams is the brand new No. 1 with Wilson and Lazard preventing for the No. 2 spot — just like the battle in Seattle between Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Wilson and Lazard are WR3s with Adams’ arrival, and Lazard now has the upper ceiling with the landing upside. Adams is a mid-high WR2 with the potential for WR1 numbers. — Jake Ciely, Fantasy senior author

Mark Davis’ response to commerce

Raiders proprietor Mark Davis arrived at The Whitley Atlanta Buckhead Resort for the NFL fall house owners’ conferences Tuesday shortly after Adams was traded. As soon as the conferences have been over, he spoke to reporters in regards to the commerce and stated he wasn’t comfortable to see Adams go, however he was happy with how normal supervisor Tom Telesco dealt with the commerce.

“It’s a part of this life in soccer,” Davis stated. “Gamers come and go. If issues don’t work out, they don’t work out. Tom Telesco did job right now of constructing positive that we transfer ahead sooner or later with as little distraction as potential.”

When requested why issues didn’t pan out for Adams, Davis defaulted to the discernment of Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce.

“I depart these selections as much as the final supervisor and the pinnacle coach,” Davis stated. “They make the soccer selections. I seek the advice of with them and I’d play satan’s advocate loads of instances, however they make the selections they usually make the ultimate determination.”

The Raiders may’ve doubtlessly acquired a greater commerce bundle in return for Adams in the event that they supplied to pay down his base wage, however they have been unwilling to take action in line with league sources. That call would have required Davis to make the ultimate determination given he’d have to chop the test for it.

“I can’t actually get into discussing the elements of the commerce,” Davis stated when requested why the Raiders didn’t supply to pay any of Adams’ base wage as a part of the commerce negotiations. — Tashan Reed, Raiders beat author

Required studying

(Picture: Ethan Miller / Getty Photos)