During the first segment of last night’s Korner Booth livestream, co-host Jared asked me – as well as co-host and fellow New York Jets fan Matt – about the possibility of the Jets acquiring wide receiver Davante Adams. This comes off the comment made by Adams’ former teammate and current Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers about a possible reunion.
“I love Davante Adams, I can’t wait to play with him…again.”
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) July 11, 2024
Aaron Rodgers on Davante Adams at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Presented by @RN_GolfClub #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/Cm7crqXcjF
Now, whether he means on the golf course or on the football field is anyone’s guess. (Rodgers is known to be a bit cryptic when it comes to media interactions.) But I’ve consulted with Doctor Strange. He has told me there is a universe where Davante Adams does become a member of the New York Jets.
However, there are some conditions.
How Committed is Davante?
Last season, Davante Adams was rumored to be a trade deadline casualty to the New York Jets. This was before owner Mark Davis smartened up, fired former head coach Josh McDaniels, and promoted Antonio Pierce to said role. Pierce’s interim title was removed after the Raiders finished 4-4 to end the 2023 season. Adams was recently asked about having Pierce back as coach:
“The proof is in the pudding. You see the difference when we made the change. How the players feel. How hard they played. The results on the field. Everything was a million times better, so I was really just trying to put the icing on the cake with the help of some other players.”
Davante Adams
It’s nice to see that harmony at the end of the 2023 season. Will that tone change once we come to the trade deadline? The Raiders’ quarterback room in 2024 is Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, Anthony Brown, Jr., and Carter Bradley. Yikes. In Green Bay, the duo of Rodgers and Adams racked up over 8,000 yards in nine seasons. A reunion in New York would be a boom for a Jets offense that has been devoid of explosiveness for a very long time.
The Raiders Need to Be Out of It by Week 9
Looking at the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2024 schedule, it is front loaded with tough opponents. Such opponents include Baltimore, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and Cincinnati. Four of those teams went to the playoffs in 2023 and two were on the precipice of a playoff berth. This year’s NFL deadline is on November 5, right after Week 9. Could Jets general manager Joe Douglas call Raiders general manager Tom Telesco to work out a trade for Davante Adams by then? That will depend on how far behind (or how far ahead) the Jets are in the race for the AFC East title or a Wild Card berth. If the Raiders’ season goes belly up on the way to Week 9, I would expect Telesco to be fielding calls from any and all contenders.
Speaking of Joe Douglas…
How Desperate are Douglas and Saleh?
Let’s face facts: the jobs of both general manager Joe Douglas AND head coach Robert Saleh are on the line this season. There is a playoff mandate from primary owner Woody Johnson. With fans, the mandate is not just playoffs, but beyond. The addition of Davante Adams to a Jets team that has had trouble moving the ball through the air in past years would be great. But at what cost? According to Spotrac, the Jets have the fourth-least cap space available*, and Adams’ contract has a cap hit of over $25M. Not an ideal situation. They also have draft capital – which Douglas hates to surrender – to provide. But if both Douglas and Saleh want to keep their jobs, they may have to go all in on Adams. They just need to make sure the timing is right.
(*This is without the contract extension that Haason Reddick – last seen cosplaying in Japan – is requesting. He is currently holding out.)
The Window is Closing FAST
The championship window opportunity for the New York Jets is closing FAST. The Jets have not been to the playoffs since 2010. Fans are famished for this franchise to make its move. A young, talented, and hungry roster won’t get too many chances to go to the playoffs before their rookie deals expire. On top of that, Douglas went all in on Rodgers – who turns 41 in December – before last year’s draft. An opportunity for the Jets to obtain the services of Davante Adams to put them over the top is one Douglas can’t pass up. Again, it depends on where the Jets and the Raiders are after Week 9. How much in Douglas’ ear Rodgers is will also play a factor.
Here’s a dramatization of what that looks like:
