Jets should turn their focus to another star player after latest news

Another day, another high-profile, big time wide receiver for the Jets to trade for.

At least this one makes a little more sense than the last one. I wrote earlier this week , that while it would be nice to think about Aaron Rodgers reuniting with his former best receiver Davante Adams in New York, ultimately it doesn’t make sense. For starters, Adams is going to 32-years old this season. The Jets don’t need another expensive, older player to add to the plethora they already have.

Secondly, the Jets don’t have the cap space to absorb Adams’ $16.89 million cap hit with only about $6 million of space on the books. The Jets don’t have much to give up in order to satisfy the Raiders in order to acquire Adams.

Lastly, Adams and the Raiders appear to have (at least for the time being) repaired the tensions that lead to his unhappiness.

So, with Davante Adams not headed out East to join the Jets, could another star wide receiver from the West Coast make the trip?

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, after months of a public battle with the team for a new contract, officially requested a trade today from the team.

While as of now that reports are that the 49ers are turning teams away who are attempting to acquire the 26-year old, that could all change as we get further into training camps.

So, should the Jets make a run at the second team all pro wide receiver? While I still lean towards passing on a deal, I’m much more open to dealing for Aiyuk than I would be for Adams. That’s nothing against Adams. I think he is very likely Canton-bound in the future. It’s just much harder to get Adams on the Jets than it is Aiyuk.

Aiyuk wants out of San Francisco. He has made that abundantly clear. Could that all change? Sure, but right now tensions between him and the team are high. Aiyuk would cost a hefty price to acquire because he is younger and cheaper (for the moment) and there are at least two other teams in play for him. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders have reportedly made calls about trading for him, and then there are always teams lurking.

The Jets could rework their current cap to absorb Aiyuk’s contract for this season and give him the large deal he is looking for and keep him around for a few years. He is only 26 and while Adams is past his prime, having a player of Aiyuk’s caliber locked up for his prime years is not a bad thing.

Pairing Aiyuk with Garrett Wilson would give the Jets one of the most formidable wide receiver duos in the NFL, and that is even before you add Mike Williams who they signed this off season.

Still, I think the Jets do nothing more than their (everyone say it with me) due diligence when it comes to trading for Brandon Aiyuk.

Related: Jets Training Camp: Veteran faces make-or-break summer that will determine his fate in New York