Aaron Rodgers was walking a golf course in Lake Tahoe this summer when he told a reporter “I love Davante Adams, I can’t wait to play with him … again.”
Later, Rodgers claimed he was talking about playing golf with Adams, not football … if you believe him.
“I do love Davante, for sure,” Rodgers said in July, smirking. “I think I was talking about golf.”
Aaron Rodgers was asked about his comments regarding Davante Adams in Lake Tahoe:
“I do love Davante, for sure. That particular guy was a tad bit irritating, I would say” 😂 pic.twitter.com/XwbbV3CbJM
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) July 31, 2024
Maybe Rodgers was simply predicting the future — a future that many around the Jets have felt was inevitable. Earlier this summer, Adams said: “If I’m going to be reunited with anybody, it would be Aaron.” On Tuesday morning, during an appearance on the “Up and Adams” show, when host Kay Adams suggested the star wide receiver missed his longtime former Packers quarterback, Davante responded, smiling: “How could you not?”
Later that day, Adams reportedly requested a trade from the Raiders. The expectation is that the Jets will be involved in those discussions, as it’s a situation general manager Joe Douglas has been monitoring since last season. When the Jets acquired Rodgers last year, Adams was among the players he expressed to the organization they should consider pursuing, in addition to some others (Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb) who they wound up signing.
It’s a match that makes a whole lot of sense, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the Jets ultimately make a push to land the six-time Pro Bowler. Adams is one of the most accomplished wide receivers in the NFL, and much of his accomplishments came when Rodgers was throwing him the ball from 2014-21, until Green Bay traded Adams to the Raiders.
The Raiders informed teams they’d consider moving Adams if that return included a second-round pick and additional compensation. At that cost (or less), it’s absolutely worth the Jets pursuing.
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The Jets own their own second- and third-round picks in 2025, as well as an additional third-round pick (acquired from Detroit when the Lions traded up in the fourth round last spring). The Jets also likely wouldn’t be resistant to including Pro Bowl defensive end Haason Reddick in any deal, especially considering Reddick is still in the middle of a months-long holdout that started in OTAs and minicamp. As far as salary considerations, a trade for Adams this week would cost the Jets about $13.5 million for the rest of the year. Each week, the number drops by $968,000 — and as a bonus, Adams has no guaranteed salary in 2025. The Jets currently have $16.8 million in cap space, though that number is inflated since Reddick is currently on the reserve/did not report list and so his salary doesn’t count toward their cap space at the moment.
Rodgers has made his feelings about Adams clear over and over again since he joined the Jets — and it was clear during the quarterback’s final season in Green Bay, in 2022, that Rodgers missed Adams. Rodgers had his worst statistical season since early in his career that season, struggling to build chemistry with the Packers’ young wide receiver corps. When the Jets went to Las Vegas last year for a Week 10 game against the Raiders (Rodgers was out, recovering from his torn Achilles) the two former teammates hung out the night before the game. They’ve maintained a friendship and Rodgers has often made references to his chemistry and relationship with Adams in press conferences since joining the Jets — especially in conversations about Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
But should the Jets make a move for the 31-year-old wideout? That depends on a few factors. At the end of the day, there’s one important one: The Jets have a 40-year-old quarterback and are firmly in a short, win-now window — and coming off a bad 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos.
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Wilson has struggled thus far and his chemistry with Rodgers hasn’t exactly been on point. The third-year receiver had 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons despite a revolving door at quarterback, and the theory was that Wilson would take off with some stability in the form of Rodgers. Instead, Wilson has struggled as teams have shadowed him with their star corners in each of the last three weeks. He only has 191 yards over four games and has yet to top 60 yards or six receptions in any week. Answering a question from former Jets linebacker Bart Scott on ESPN Radio New York’s “Bart and Hahn” show Tuesday, Wilson made comments that some on social media construed as critical of the Jets offense (posting on X, Wilson pushed back on that characterization).
Lazard, a friend and former teammate of Adams too, has been the Jets’ most productive receiver through three games, accumulating 16 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns. The Jets signed Mike Williams this offseason to improve the supporting cast around Wilson — especially since Lazard struggled in 2023 after signing a $44 million free agent contract. Williams has started to take on a full workload after missing all of training camp.
But none of those receivers, Wilson included, have the pedigree of Adams, who had 103 catches for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns for the Raiders in 2023 in what was considered a “down” year by his standards. That season included a quarterback benching and an in-season head coach firing. Life would be easier in New York for both Wilson and Adams, as teams would find it challenging to double team either of them. Adams is currently dealing with a hamstring injury but had nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in a Week 2 upset in Baltimore.
The Jets mostly avoided handing out big-money contracts this offseason and their cash spending was down significantly compared to past years, so it’s unclear how willing owner Woody Johnson will be to pay another player $13.5 million. Though it can’t be ruled out if the goal is to win a Super Bowl with Rodgers in the twilight of his career. It should be noted that wide receiver isn’t the Jets’ biggest current need — that would be edge rusher — but it certainly couldn’t hurt to add an All-Pro wide receiver.
There’s also the matter of the Jets not being the only team that will be interested in acquiring him. The New Orleans Saints have Derek Carr at quarterback — Carr, who played with Adams at Fresno State, was a big reason why Adams landed with the Raiders in the first place. The Pittsburgh Steelers tried to trade for Brandon Aiyuk this offseason and could be in the mix. Other teams could emerge too.
But rest assured, the Jets are among the favorites to acquire him. As they should be.
(Top photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
