The New York Jets are 2-4 and trying to turn things around in a hurry in their second season with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback. Fresh off a frustrating night for the offense in a 23-20 home loss to the Bills on Monday night, they have made the ultimate addition: Reuniting Rodgers with Davante Adams, his former go-to wide receiver with the Packers.
Adams, 31, who had missed his final three games with the Raiders with a hamstring injury, also used the time to sit out until Las Vegas officials found trading partners. He had expressed his desire to either play again with his former Raiders and Fresno State QB Derek Carr as a Saint or go back to Rodgers as a Jet. The latter became the default option with Carr (oblique) injured in New Orleans.
Were the Jets smart to make this aggressive, expensive move in the short term and be buyers before the midseason trade deadline despite having the same 2-4 record as the Raiders? Did the Raiders make out well, despite their desperation to move Adams? Here's grading the deal for both sides.
MORE: Why Raiders traded Davante Adams | Will Adams play Week 7?
Davante Adams trade grades
Jets receive:
Raiders receive:
- 2025 conditional third-round draft pick
MORE DAVANTE ADAMS TRADE:
Adams number with Jets | Adams contract details | Jets WR depth chart | Adams trade fantasy impact
Jets grade: A+
The Jets' wide receivers have been getting better working with Rodgers. Garrett Wilson is locking in as a young rising star, and former Packer Allen Lazard has made a ton of big plays, including coming down with Rodgers' Hail Mary TD against the Bills in the first half. But Mike Williams continues to be a major disappointment as an outside No. 2.
Adams gives the Packers the ideal, savvy No. 1 who can get open all over the field and ease much of the coverage pressure on Wilson. Wilson won't see nearly as many double-teams anymore, and it also will be difficult to give Adams that treatment because of Williams.
The Jets get immediately upgraded from a pedestrian, limited offense that must use its backs, Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, to be in better position to pass downfield playing off the run, as there's nothing wrong with Rodgers' rocket arm at age 40.
Rodgers and Adams have an innate connection so there will be no learning curve. He will get in there right away and have an immediate impact, starting with an almost must-win matchup with the 4-2 Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday night in Week 7. Adams sat out the Raiders playing that same team in Week 6, so he'll be well prepared, too, for his first Jets game. This is a huge win for this season, and now there's a chance the Rodgers-Adams duo can be together in New York in 2025, too.
Raiders grade: D
The Raiders settled for little return for Adams because they botched the aftermath of the trade to acquire him from the Packers in 2022. Although the former regime of coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler is gone, replaced by Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco, Adams' presence became more of a burden since the team moved on from Carr before last season.
Telesco had to take what he could get given the desperation of the situation and Adams' demands. Adams got baited and switched in Las Vegas, given he mostly agreed to come there so he could play with Carr. Instead, he's seen the team tank at QB with Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O'Connell, and Gardner Minshew the past two seasons.
Adams can be much happier now away from a dysfunctional organization that might be dealing Maxx Crosby, his best friend on the Raiders, for another uneven return soon. The Raiders are trying to clean up their past mess, and it will take plenty of time to do so, not helped by getting little draft compensation for one of the best veteran players.
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