Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are joining forces again after over two years apart and a year filled with speculation. Now, they aim to turn around the New York Jets’ struggling season.
The Jets made headlines on Tuesday by acquiring a disgruntled Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders for a conditional third-round draft pick in the upcoming draft, a pick that has the potential to become a second-rounder.
“We’re back, man,” exclaimed Adams as he appeared alongside Rodgers at the Jets’ facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, during the quarterback’s regular segment on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
The agreement was reached on Tuesday morning, dependent upon Adams passing a medical exam. The teams officially announced the trade a few hours later.
Rodgers expressed his excitement about the deal, mentioning that shortly after the Jets’ narrow 23-20 defeat to Buffalo on Monday night, Adams informed him of his move to New York. “I love Tae,” he said, referring to Adams. “He’s an incredible player and a close friend.”
At 31 years old, Adams is set to significantly enhance a Jets offense that has struggled with consistency during the season. He joins fellow receiver Garrett Wilson, creating a formidable duo of top-tier wide receivers for Rodgers. Additionally, Adams adds depth to a roster that includes Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, tight end Tyler Conklin, and running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
Rodgers emphasized the urgency of their situation, stating, “It’s on us now. We’re going all in.”
Adams has recovered from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the last three games with the Raiders. He indicated he feels great and received ample treatment, allowing him to be ready to play.
Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich expressed his enthusiasm about welcoming Adams but noted it was too soon to determine if Adams would be available for their upcoming game against Pittsburgh.
This union follows a successful eight-season partnership in Green Bay, where Adams thrived as one of the league’s leading receivers while catching passes from Rodgers. “He’s made me look good a lot of times,” Rodgers stated, highlighting their strong bond on and off the field. “We got better today.”
The anticipation of Adams joining the Jets has been building ever since the team showed interest in acquiring him last year during the NFL trade deadline. Rodgers had previously expressed his eagerness to reunite with Adams, even playfully claiming they would connect on the golf course instead, which only fueled further speculation.
Adams’ departure from the Raiders was widely predicted after his dissatisfaction with the team surfaced, and the Jets became a likely destination due to his close ties with Rodgers. On his recent appearance on the “Up & Adams Show,” Adams mentioned he had not communicated with Raiders coach Antonio Pierce since Pierce reacted positively on social media to a post about potentially trading Adams.
The last week has been turbulent for the Jets, especially after the firing of head coach Robert Saleh and a subsequent reshuffling of the coaching staff. Now, acquiring Adams symbolizes a significant shift as the team seeks to rebuild its momentum.
Throughout his career, Adams has consistently ranked among the best in the NFL due to his precise route running and ability to perform under pressure, including double coverage. Last year alone, he caught 103 passes for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns, marking his fifth season surpassing the 1,000-yard benchmark in six years.
This season, he has recorded 18 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown across three games. The Raiders made a notable investment in acquiring Adams in 2022, sending substantial draft picks to the Packers and granting him a lucrative five-year contract worth $140 million, nearly $66 million of which was guaranteed.
In terms of his financial impact, Adams’ salary cap hit is set to rise from $25.35 million this year to $44.1 million in the following two years. Reports suggest that the Jets will take on the remainder of Adams’ salary, and there might be discussions for a contract restructuring to ease his cap hit this season.
“I’m sure there’s a few new, little nuances,” Adams said regarding his adaptation to the Jets’ offensive system. “But for the most part, a lot of the same verbiage. It’s still the same OG right here, so should be able to pick up where we left off. You know, that’s the idea.”
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AP Pro Football Writers Josh Dubow and Rob Maaddi, along with AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson, contributed to this report.
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