Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams during a game against the Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore, Md., on Sept. 15.Nick Wass/The Associated Press
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are finally reunited after more than two years of separation and one year of speculation – and now they’ll try to save the New York Jets ' sinking season.
The Jets agreed to terms Tuesday to acquire the disgruntled Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
“We’re back, man,” Adams said while briefly joining Rodgers at the Jets’ facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, for the quarterback’s weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “We’re back.”
New York is sending a conditional third-round pick in next year’s draft that could become a second-rounder, but it is pending a physical for the wide receiver, one of the people told the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams didn’t announce the deal.
NFL Network was the first to report the trade.
“Obviously, I’m really excited,” said Rodgers, who got a call from Adams a few hours after the Jets’ 23-20 loss to Buffalo on Monday night.
The 31-year-old Adams immediately boosts a Jets offence that has been inconsistent through the first part of the season. The three-time All-Pro joins Garrett Wilson to give Rodgers two No. 1-caliber wide receivers to throw to, complementing fellow receivers Mike Williams, Allen Lazard and Xavier Gipson, tight end Tyler Conklin and running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
“It’s on us now,” Rodgers said. “We’re going all in.”
Adams, who missed the Raiders’ last three games with a hamstring injury, reportedly told the team he wanted out of Las Vegas – and the team was willing to accommodate his request.
“I’m feeling great, man,” Adams said, adding he got lots of treatment from the Raiders’ training staff. “Fortunately, I’ll be able to roll.”
And now he’s back with Rodgers, the quarterback with whom he enjoyed eight seasons of success catching passes from in Green Bay.
“He’s made me look good a lot of times,” Rodgers said. “We got better today.”
It seemed inevitable, especially when the Jets reportedly showed interest in Adams last year at the NFL trade deadline. Rodgers said at a celebrity golf tournament over the summer: “I love Davante. I can’t wait to play with him … again.” With a smile, Rodgers said during training camp he meant on the golf course, but it was enough to fuel speculation that at some point – somehow – the Jets would move to bring in Adams.
The deal came less than 12 hours after the Jets lost 23-20 to the Buffalo Bills, a game in which Rodgers threw a Hail Mary just before halftime but also was intercepted on New York’s final drive for the second straight week. It was a game marked by penalties, mistakes and missed opportunities on offence, and dropped the Jets to 2-4 amid in a three-game skid.
“It’s frustrating,” Rodgers said. “I’m here to win those games, but we’ve got to be on our details. It’s little things every single time.”
The trade also caps what has been a tumultuous last seven days for the Jets. Two days after losing to Minnesota in London, owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday and defensive co-ordinator Jeff Ulbrich was tapped to replace him as the interim. Ulbrich then demoted offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett and replaced him with pass game co-ordinator Todd Downing on Wednesday.
And now the Jets have made a major deal to bring in Adams, one of Rodgers’ best friends and favourite teammates. Adams has caught 615 passes from Rodgers for 7,517 yards and 68 touchdowns, all in Green Bay. That’s the most in all three categories between any combination of active players.
Adams’ departure from Las Vegas was expected after reports surfaced that he no longer wanted to be there – and the Jets immediately became a likely landing spot because of his relationship with Rodgers.
In his weekly appearance on the “Up & Adams Show” two weeks ago, Adams said he hadn’t heard from Antonio Pierce since the Raiders coach appeared to like a social media post about possibly trading Adams.
That was the first sure sign that a split could be coming, though an Adams trade has long been speculated given several statements he has made for more than a year. That included clear frustration he showed on the Netflix documentary series “Receiver” in which Adams’ season was among those featured.
Adams remains one of the NFL’s top receivers, even at nearly 32, because of his precise route running and ability to catch passes, even while double teamed. He caught 103 passes last season for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns. It was his fifth 1,000-yard season in six years, broken up only by the 997 yards Adams had in 2019.
He has caught 18 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown in three games this season.
The Raiders gave up a major haul in 2022 to get Adams when they sent the Packers first– and second-round picks in that year’s draft and made Adams the highest-paid receiver at the time with a five-year, $140-million contract, with nearly $66-million guaranteed.
His final two years in 2025 and 2026 are not guaranteed. Adams’ salary-cap hit rises from $25.35-million this season to $44.1-million each of the next two years, according to Spotrac. ESPN reported the Jets will assume the balance of Adams’ remaining salary.