close
close

Jets and Raiders finalize deal for star receiver

Posted on by Vanessa
Jets and Raiders finalize deal for star receiver

play

Just over a month after Davante Adams denied claims that he was unhappy with the Las Vegas Raiders, the three-time All-Pro wide receiver and his soon-to-be former team are parting ways.

Now he will enjoy a highly anticipated reunion with a former teammate.

The Raiders were working to complete a trade of Adams to the New York Jets on Tuesday, ending the franchise's unfortunate streak with the previous acquisition of its headquarters and reuniting the receiver with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Jets are expected to return a conditional third-round pick who could become a second-rounder if Adams is named to the first- or second-team All-Pro selection or on the team's active roster for an AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl appearance is set. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.

Jets owner Woody Johnson confirmed the move was complete, saying Tuesday at the NFL owners meeting in Atlanta that the deal was “up in the air.”

The move comes just a day after the Jets, who fired coach Robert Saleh last Tuesday, fell to 2-4 with a loss to the Buffalo Bills.

According to multiple reports, Adams told the Raiders on September 30 that he preferred to be traded rather than remain with the team. According to multiple reports, the Raiders had previously resisted any inquiries about a potential deal, but were willing to listen to offers after Adams' request.

Adams, 31, joined the Raiders in 2022 after a successful eight-year career with the Green Bay Packers. He wanted to be reunited with his close friend and former Fresno State teammate Derek Carr, and Las Vegas gave up a first-round pick and a second-round pick to bring the two together.

However, the connection would only last one season as Carr was benched towards the end of the 2022 season and later released.

The following season would bring even more turmoil to Las Vegas, as coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were fired midway through the season after a 3-5 start. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was replaced by rookie Aidan O'Connell as the starter, and Adams posted his lowest totals for receiving yards (1,114) and touchdown catches (eight) since his injury-shortened 2019 season.

This summer, as part of the Netflix documentary series Receivers, a clip was released of Adams ranting during a Week 6 game against the New England Patriots. Adams said, “I have to get out of here before I lose my life.”

Although former NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson claimed the six-time Pro Bowl selection was unhappy, Adams claimed before this season that the rumors of his dissatisfaction were untrue.

“Everyone wants to see what Davante Adams has to say and, you know, he's pissed in Las Vegas,” Adams said on Sept. 4. “If I was mad, I wouldn't be here right now.” “

By October 1, however, Adams' tone appeared to have changed. On the show “Up & Adams” he was asked if he played his final down for the Raiders.

“All I can control is this conversation we’re having here,” Adams said. “When we’re done with this, all I can do is the next thing I do. I’m about to get up and get a nice workout in and that’s all I can control.”

Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers reunited

At a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in July of this year, Rodgers sparked interest when asked about Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, adding, “And I love Davante. “I can't wait “To play with him again.”

Adams later admitted on Up & Adams that Rodgers had raised the possibility of working together again.

“He’s in the ear, that’s for sure, he’s in the ear,” Adams said. “But it's not that easy. Of course we can get together and talk about the old days and the potential of doing this and that, but like I said, I'm a Raider and he knows that.”

Adams received five of his six Pro Bowl nominations during his eight years with the Packers, during which he and Rodgers totaled 615 catches, 7,529 yards and 68 touchdowns.

The Jets will be able to count on him to quickly build a relationship with the experienced quarterback again. While wide receiver Garrett Wilson rushed for a season-high 107 yards in Monday's loss to the Bills, the Jets' receiving corps has otherwise struggled to find any consistency. Rodgers blamed free-agent signing Mike Williams for going the wrong way on the late fourth-quarter interception that sealed the loss to Buffalo.

Davante Adams contract

Adams' base salary for this season had been set at $16.89 million, with the majority of that still due to him. But the receiver and the Jets agreed to a restructure that would reduce his 2024 amount to $3.21 million while adding two invalid years to the end of the contract.

Before the restructuring, Adams' non-guaranteed salary was scheduled to increase to over $35 million each year in 2025 and 2026, with a cap of over $44 million.

Davante Adams stats

In 11 seasons, Adams has established himself as one of the NFL's most consistent pass catchers. He ranks fourth in career receptions (890) and receiving yards (10,990) among players currently on active rosters. He ranks 13th all-time in touchdown catches (96), trailing only Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers among active players.

In 2024, Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown in three games. He has missed the Raiders' last three games with a hamstring injury.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *