The Jets’ infatuation with Davante Adams is not new. They made calls to the Raiders before and at the deadline last year. They checked in again this offseason and summer. At each point they were told the same thing: At this time, the Raiders all-world wide receiver is not available.
That is no longer the case.
Adams told the Raiders he would welcome a trade. The Raiders told Adams they are open to trading him. That will happen before the Nov. 5 deadline.
As one team source put it: “He wants to be here, and we want him here.”
The Jets and Raiders have been discussing a deal for Adams for roughly a week now, sources told SNY. Those conversations are still ongoing. They’re considered the front runners in large part because of Adams’ relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and their mutual desire to reunite.
Most around the league SNY touched base with believe a deal sending Adams to New York will happen.
There are hurdles, though. Never is anything simple.
COMPENSATION
The Raiders want draft compensation. Significant compensation at that: a second-round pick plus, according to multiple reports out of Las Vegas. It’s hard to blame them. Adams caught 635 passes for 7,970 yards and 69 touchdowns from 2018 through 2023. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time, first-team All-Pro.
His best years were with Rodgers in Green Bay, but he’s far from just a product of the quarterback’s many successes. Adams caught 100 passes for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns his first year with the Raiders and 103 for 1,144 and eight scores last year. That was with Derek Carr, Aidan O’Connell and Jimmy Garoppolo throwing to him.
Adams, who will turn 32 in December, does not have the physical tools he once did. That’s not a surprise. He is still an elite-level receiver, one high-ranking executive told SNY. He’s among the most “crafty” and “polished” in the league. So while his physical gifts may wane, his technique will keep his productivity up.
“He’s still one of the best in the game,” the source said.
Still, a second-plus is significant compensation. The Bills got just a second-round pick from the Texans for Stefon Diggs. He’s a year younger than Adams and just as, if not more, productive and durable. The Chargers got just a fourth-round pick for 32-year-old Keenan Allen. Allen caught 108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
The Jets draft cache for 2025 is full. They hold their selections in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. They have an extra selection in the third (Lions) and sixth (Chiefs). They have their first, fourth, fifth and sixth selections in 2026. There are conditions tied to their second and third-round selections – one will be going to the Eagles for Haason Reddick based on playing time and sack production.
The Jets can put together a compelling package for Adams, not only with draft compensation, but players. Wideout Garrett Wilson is untouchable, but Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson or Malachi Corley could be included if the Raiders seek a receiver to replace Adams and the Jets have concerns about how many mouths to feed with one ball to go around. The Jets previously included Lazard in a trade package to the Broncos for wideout Jerry Jeudy, sources told SNY at the time. The Broncos ultimately dealt him to the Browns instead.
Lazard leads the Jets in both receiving yards (206) and touchdowns (3) as he’s enjoyed a resurgence now that Rodgers is healthy. Williams (10 catches, 120 yards) continues to involve himself more in the offense as he works back from offseason knee surgery. It’s unlikely, at this time, the Jets deal either in an all-in year. Gipson (six catches, 22 yards) and Corley (a rookie who’s played sparingly) would seem more likely.
While there’s a belief the Jets could include Reddick, who has yet to report to the team as he seeks a new contract, that was not the case as of Thursday afternoon, sources told SNY. This could change as the situation is fluid.
FINANCIAL
The Jets were among the league’s highest spenders in 2022 (eighth most) and 2023 (fifth most). They missed the playoffs both years with 7-10 records. The budget was tighter this offseason.
Mike Maccagnan, feeling the pressure to win in 2019, spent irresponsibly in free agency (C.J. Mosley, Le’Veon Bell). This put the Jets in a difficult cap situation in future years, hampering a newly hired Joe Douglas’ ability to round out the roster.
The Jets would inherit Adams’ contract if they were to trade for him. His current deal runs through 2026, but there is no guaranteed money remaining on the final two years (2025 and 2026). Considering both those years also include base salaries of $35.6 million and $36.6 million, those years are meaningless. The deal will be reworked, or Adams cut, before Adams ever sees that money.
The only year the Jets need to worry about is this one. Adams began the season with a base salary of $16.89 million. That money is paid out weekly over the course of the season ($938,000). If the Jets traded for Adams before Week 5 (their game against the Vikings), they would owe him roughly $13 million. That figure drops by $938,000 each passing week.
Most league sources expect the Jets to request the Raiders convert a portion of Adams’ remaining base salary to a signing bonus to complete any trade. That signing bonus would be paid to Adams up front, and by the Raiders. It would then lessen his base salary, which is the money the Jets owe him the rest of the season.
The Jets would likely need to loop in additional draft compensation to make this happen – a late-round selection.
HEALTH
Adams is not healthy. He tweaked his hamstring in practice, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, and is expected to miss the next 1-2 weeks. This is an important factor.
The Jets traded for Reddick in March. They received permission from the Eagles to speak to him before they did. They made him a contract offer. He said no. They then received a verbal agreement from Reddick and his representation that they would play on his current deal while they worked toward an adjusted current contract (converting unguaranteed to guaranteed) and discussed a potential long-term extension following on-field play.
Reddick assured the Jets he would attend the offseason program. He then skipped that, minicamp, training camp and every game so far this season.
The last thing the Jets want is to trade for a player they know is injured believing it only to be a couple-week issue, but since injuries can be fickle, then have him sit out a month-plus. Hamstrings are tricky. You will reinjure it if you rush your way back. The Jets cannot afford to have that happen. Even if just for the optics after the Reddick fiasco.
WILL IT HAPPEN?
All signs point toward yes. There are other teams involved. The Cowboys and Saints are two. The Bills have made a call. Sources told SNY that, at this point in time, the Commanders are not believed to be in the mix. Although, again: Fluid situation.
No team checks more boxes than the Jets, though, or has been pursuing this the longest. They have the win-now team, draft capital, cap room and a quarterback desperate to reunite with his former No. 1 receiver.
Nothing is imminent, sources told SNY, but it does feel inevitable.
