Raiders' asking price for Davante Adams is an opportunity the Jets can’t pass up
It’s not always that a real star offensive weapon becomes available in the trade market. There are mitigating factors, for sure, like Davante Adams’ age and contract. But based on his connection with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, his knowledge of Nathaniel Hackett’s offensive system, and the level of player he still is, it should be an […]
It’s not always that a real star offensive weapon becomes available in the trade market. There are mitigating factors, for sure, like Davante Adams’ age and contract. But based on his connection with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, his knowledge of Nathaniel Hackett’s offensive system, and the level of player he still is, it should be an easy decision for the New York Jets.
More than that, the value of the trade seems to make total sense for general manager Joe Douglas to pull the trigger. According to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders are asking for a second-round pick and something else.
Remember, the Raiders gave up first- and second-round picks to the Green Bay Packers two years ago. So yes, his value is obviously lower now because Adams will be 32 in December and because he publicly wants out, but these are circumstances that don’t affect what he could mean for the Jets in an all-in season.
The Jets have enough draft capital to make it happen. The team holds all of their own draft picks in 2025, except for the seventh-round — and that’s because they moved up to the sixth trading Mecole Hardman to the Kansas City Chiefs for a swap of late-rounders. The Jets also have an extra third-rounder because of a draft trade with the Denver Broncos this year.
So let’s say the Jets send the Raiders a second- and a fourth-rounder for Adams. They would still have a first, two thirds, a fifth, and two sixths. And this scenario doesn’t even consider a potential decision to trade edge defender Haason Reddick away, which could give the team extra capital in 2025 or recoup the lost capital in 2026.
Yes, the Jets do have enough offensive weaponry with Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard. But put an elite talent like Adams into this equation and the offense can go to another level.
Salary cap
The most challenging part of the situation is how the Jets will adjust their salary cap to absorb Davante’s contract, but this is totally feasible. The team has $16.8 million in cap space right now, an enough amount to acquire Adams’ remaining salary for the season — around $13 million.
After executing the trade, the Jets would have the option to restructure the deal, moving money to the future adding void years. Adams’ cap hit could go to something around $6 million, for example, and the rest would hit the cap in future seasons.
Theoretically, Davante has two more years in his deal, but the money makes it unlikely that it will stay as it is — $36.25 million in each of 2025 and 2026. But there are no guarantees left, so the Jets would have the option to just restructure or entirely redo the deal, and if no agreement is reached, they could just release him.
It’s not easy to give up a second-round pick and more for less than a full season. But this is the season for the Jets, and it will become harder and harder to be competitive with this type of roster construction.
After Aaron Rodgers retires, New York will have to do some kind of rebuild anyway, looking for younger and less expensive players. Right now, the correct approach is to put Rodgers and the current version of the team in the best possible position to succeed. Davante Adams gives them that, and Joe Douglas needs to talk to the Raiders with that in mind.
