Trading Davante Adams might not be as easy as picking up the phone for New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey.
Adams, 32, was acquired by the Jets in October 2024 to be reunited with Aaron Rodgers. But with a reset at quarterback and Adams’ cap hits of $38.3 million in both 2025 and 2026, the Jets are planning to move on quickly.
According to multiple reports, the Jets informed Adams they are gauging his trade market. If no deal develops, the team is expected to release the veteran wide receiver as part of a broad reboot of the offense.
Adams caught 85 passes for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns with the Las Vegas Raiders and Jets in 2024 despite missing three games.
If the Jets trade Adams before June 1, they will take a dead cap hit of $8.36 million in 2025, but the savings on the cap equals $29.9 million.
While the nostalgia of playing with Rodgers again might be an option if Adams is released, several prominent Green Bay Packers pushed for the franchise to bring back Adams. Running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney, who joined the Packers after Adams joined the Raiders, both said last month they would like to see Green Bay pursue Adams.
Adams signed a five-year, $141.25 million deal with the Raiders in 2022. Mougey must determine whether a team would absorb the two-year, $72.5 million remaining on the contract.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were in the market for veteran wide receivers last year but other than a deadline acquisition of former Los Angeles Chargers first-round pick Mike Williams, they were unable to fill the void.
Mougey’s previous role was assistant general manager of the Denver Broncos, who might be interested in netting a veteran No. 1 receiver opposite Courtland Sutton.
–Field Level Media
