Most people either know or should know that NFL contracts are only as good as the guaranteed money in them. And even then, they can be reworked to be pretty much whatever a team needs them to be.
Take Davante Adams’s deal from 2022. The one he was still playing under a few weeks ago.
That deal was touted as a monster five-year, $140 million deal. But if you looked past the agent speak, it was nowhere near that.
Really, it was a one-year deal. Yeah, a one-year deal.
It only had $22.75 million fully guaranteed, which means the Raiders could get out from under it after one season.
Should they decide to keep Davante, more guarantees kicked it, making it a three-year deal. With the final two years of non-guaranteed money window dressing numbers he was never going to earn.
That’s what the Raiders did, which means his guarantees ran out after this season. So, when they traded him, there were some who were saying the Jet’s were renting Davante for half a season.
Well, you knew that wasn’t going to be the case. They weren’t sending even that third round pick minimum to Las Vegas for ten games of Davante.
Today, the Jets did the expected — they reworked his deal. Ensuring he is at least paid through 2025.
WR Davante Adams’ renegotiated contract with the #Jets contains no changes after 2024. NYJ converted $10.4M of Adams’ remaining 2024 salary into signing bonus, lowering his cap hit down to $3.2M.
Cash Flow
2025: $11.59M (gtd)
2026: $36.25M (non-gtd)
2027: $36.25M (non-gtd)— Spotrac (@spotrac) October 30, 2024
Not only did the Jets ensure Adams will be still under contract next season, they lowered their own cap number in the process. It appears they turned one of void years into an added year on the contract, but that doesn’t really matter because — as I stated before — he won’t be playing for $36 million a season or without any guaranteed money.
The Jets clearly see they have a small window here with Rodgers and Adams together for this season and next season to take a shot at the Super Bowl.
So far it hasn’t looked like that’s in the cards for them this season as they sit at 2-6 on the season — same as Adams’s former team as it happens — including losing both the games since Adams arrived.
