Davante Adams teases a future decision that could spark hope for Packers fans

Three years ago, wide receiver Davante Adams made a tough decision. He requested a trade from the Green Bay Packers, knowing that the franchise would eventually transition from Aaron Rodgers. It has certainly backfired, though. Initially, Adams was traded to play alongside his friend Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders, but Carr himself was […]

Wendell Ferreira NFL News Writer
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) are shown during a mandatory minicamp Tuesday, June 8, 2021 in Green Bay, Wis.
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Three years ago, wide receiver Davante Adams made a tough decision. He requested a trade from the Green Bay Packers, knowing that the franchise would eventually transition from Aaron Rodgers.

It has certainly backfired, though. Initially, Adams was traded to play alongside his friend Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders, but Carr himself was released after one season. In 2024, Adams requested another trade and moved to the New York Jets to play with Rodgers once again.

Even though Adams is technically still under contract with the Jets for 2025, his $36.25 million salary makes it likely that the Jets will move on. So it's possible that the wide receiver will be a free agent for the first time in the NFL.

Could the 32-year-old receiver go back to Green Bay? Well, he doesn't rule it out.

"You know, you can't rule anything out. I got a lot of love for all the organizations I played for. So I wouldn't rule out anybody," Adams told Kay Adams during her show on Friday. "Obviously, I think there's some saltiness from maybe some of the fan bases that I've been with because of not understanding what I was going through, and the decision that I decided to make for my own personal career, which somehow hurt everybody."

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Some Packers fans certainly didn't like Adams' decision to move on from the team in 2022, but it's a different set of circumstances now. Jordan Love is established as a franchise quarterback, and the Packers have been in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. At the same time, the franchise hasn't had a 1,000-yard receiving season since Adams left.

"I would say yeah, I'm keeping my mind open to wherever," Adams added. "Obviously the Packers are a great team, and if they felt like that was a possibility for me. Like I said, I'm still with the Jets, so I can't be here talking about going to other teams."

The Jets' situation is intriguing because he is under contract through 2026. Right now, the team is looking for a new general manager and head coach, and those new leaders would be responsible for making a decision on Adams' future. If they don't want to pay him what's agreed to, though, Adams will have a say—either to negotiate a new deal or to request a trade or release.

"This is going to be an interesting offseason, one that's been different than any one that I've had in the past," Adams mentioned. "Talking about potential landing spots is a little bit different this time. I don't know, we'll see, but definitely keeping that open mind."

Davante Adams has had five consecutive 1,000 receiving-yard seasons — and seven straight seasons with at least 997 receiving yards. In 2024, he had 209 yards and a touchdown for the Raiders, then 854 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games for the Jets, combining for 1,063 yards in 14 total games.

Age and money will certainly be factors for the Packers, and general manager Brian Gutekunst doesn't have a significant track record of handing older players big deals. However, Davante Adams is a special type of player, and Christian Watson's injury situation might lead to a unique approach to put more weapons around Love. Adams knows Matt LaFleur’s system and has already practiced and played with the quarterback, prompting an easier path to an immediate impact.