Davante Adams will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers again.
The New York Jets on Tuesday acquired Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders for a conditional third-round pick in 2025. That selection could be elevated to a second-round pick based on Adams’ individual performance the rest of this season, according to ESPN and the Athletic.
NFL Network reported the Jets have agreed to take on the rest of Adams’ salary in order to complete the deal. He’s in the middle of the third season on a five-year, $140m contract signed in 2022. That includes base salaries of $35.64m in 2025 and 2026. However, according to Spotrac sports salary database, none of the remaining money in Adams’ contract is guaranteed.
The trade came hours after the Jets (2-4) dropped their third straight game, 23-20 to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
Rodgers acknowledged on the Pat McAfee Show that he heard the news shortly after the game. How? Well, he received a call from Adams to let him know about the trade.
“Obviously, I’m really excited,” Rodgers said. “He’s a phenomenal player and a dear friend.”
Rodgers briefly glanced over his right shoulder, and Adams entered the frame.
Adams then addressed how he expects to work with Rodgers in the Jets’ offense.
“I’m sure there are a few nuances, but for the most part, a lot of the same verbiage, but still the same OG right here,” Adams said of Rodgers. “Should be able to pick up where we left off. That’s the idea.”
Rodgers played eight seasons in Green Bay with Adams, who recently requested a trade from the Raiders. The Rodgers-to-Adams combination was responsible for 622 receptions, 7,590 yards and 69 touchdowns.
New York hopes the two can recreate their magic.
Adams, 31, has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown in three games this season. He is nursing a nagging hamstring injury that caused him to sit out the last three weeks.
“I’m feeling great,” Adams said of the injury. “I’ve been working with the staff over in Vegas the whole time, and they got back right, and fortunately I’ll be ready to roll.”
A six-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro selection, Adams has 890 catches for 10,990 yards and 96 touchdowns in 153 career games (146 starts) with the Packers (2014-21) and Raiders.
Rodgers, 40, has thrown for 1,387 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions in six games this season.
Garrett Wilson leads the Jets in catches (41) and receiving yards (399) to go with three touchdowns, while former Packer Allen Lazard has a club-best five TD receptions.
Rodgers has passed for 60,442 yards, 484 touchdowns and 110 picks in 237 games (230 starts) for the Packers (2005-22) and Jets, compiling a record of 150-79-1. A four-time league Most Valuable Player, he led Green Bay to a Super Bowl XLV victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2010 season.
Bills acquire WR Amari Cooper from Browns
The Bills have acquired veteran wideout Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns.
Buffalo confirmed Tuesday that they will receive Cooper and a sixth-round draft selection in 2025 in exchange for a third-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-rounder in 2026.
Cooper, 30, is a five-time Pro Bowl selection with seven career 1,000-yard seasons. He has 24 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns in six starts this season with the Browns (1-5).
“We appreciate Amari’s hard work, professionalism and on-field contributions throughout his two plus seasons with us,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in a statement on Tuesday. “He created many memorable moments with us and was an integral part of our 2023 playoff team. We wish him the best in Buffalo as he continues his NFL career.”
The move gives Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen a marquee receiver to replace the departed Stefon Diggs, who was traded to the Houston Texans in April.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid leads the Bills (4-2) with 21 receptions and wide receiver Khalil Shakir leads the team with 249 receiving yards on 20 catches.
Over 10 NFL seasons, Cooper has 691 catches for 9,736 yards and 62 touchdowns in 146 games (139 starts) with the then-Oakland Raiders (2015-18), Dallas Cowboys (2018-21) and Browns.
Cooper is in the final season of a five-year, $100m contract signed with the Cowboys in 2020. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
The Bills released veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in a corresponding move on Tuesday. Valdes-Scantling, who turned 30 last Thursday, has two receptions on nine targets for 26 yards in six games as a reserve this season.
Valdez-Scantling has 188 receptions for 3,181 yards in 98 career games (60 starts) for the Green Bay Packers (2018-21), Kansas City Chiefs (2022-23) and Bills.
The Packers selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
