Jets' Sauce Gardner gushes over Raiders' Davante Adams amid trade rumors

New York Jets cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner understandably didn't directly say on Thursday that he'd like star wide receiver Davante Adams to reunite with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as the Las Vegas Raiders still held Adams' rights at that time.

However, Gardner didn't shy away from praising Adams while speaking with Peter Botte of the New York Post.

"I know Aaron and Davante have a great relationship," Gardner explained. "And me and Davante got a pretty cool relationship, too. We spent a lot of time together at the Pro Bowl talking with each other. I remember my rookie year [in 2022], we were talking a lot. And then I was really trying to go up against him in practice as much as I could when we were doing just walkthroughs in the red zone. I really tried to watch how he ran his routes because I knew I had to play him last year."

Adams and Rodgers were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2014 through the 2021 season, and it was reported as recently as Thursday evening that "most around the league" believe the 31-year-old receiver will join the Jets at some point before the trade deadline arrives on Nov. 5.

"He’s an incredible player and a good person," Gardner added about Adams, "and whatever happens with [the trade request] happens."

While NFL Network's Ian Rapoport wrote for a piece published early Thursday morning that Adams "wants to play" for the Jets, Rapoport also shared that the three-time first-team All-Pro "is open to playing for several other" advertised playoff contenders. New Orleans Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr previously played alongside Adams in college and with the Raiders, but the Saints may have to battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills along with the Jets for the receiver's services.

The 2-2 Jets face the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings in London this coming Sunday. Rodgers likely wishes he'd have Adams in the lineup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the future Hall of Famer could essentially force his employer to complete the trade with the Raiders if New York falls to 2-3.