Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are finally reunited after a 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.
The Jets are sending a conditional third-round pick in next year’s draft that could become a second-rounder, but the deal 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.
The 31-year-old Adams immediately boosts a Jets offense 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 wideouts Mike Williams, Allen Lazard and Xavier Gipson, tight end Tyler Conklin and running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
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.
And now he’s back with Rodgers, the quarterback with whom he enjoyed eight seasons of success with the Green Bay Packers.
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 completed a Hail Mary for a touchdown 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 offense, and it dropped the Jets to 2-4 amid 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 a tumultuous last eight days for the Jets. Two days after a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, owner Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh last Tuesday and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was tapped to replace him as the interim coach. Ulbrich then demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on Wednesday and replaced him with passing game coordinator Todd Downing.
And now the Jets have made a major deal to bring in Adams, one of Rodgers’ best friends and favorite teammates. Adams caught 615 passes from Rodgers for 7,517 yards and 68 touchdowns 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 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’ 2023 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, including 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.
AP’s Josh Dubow, Rob Maaddi and Mark Anderson contributed.
