One of the off-season's biggest topics has been finally laid to rest: “Davante Adams will not finish the 2024 season as a Raider.” The superstar wide receiver’s desire to team up with a top quarterback has now been granted as he gets set to suit up with 4-time MVP Aaron Rodgers in New York.

 The Jets have finally landed the big whale they so desperately wanted just before the trade deadline. The Raiders, on the other hand, will receive a conditional third-round pick, which could be upgraded to a second-round pick should the Jets reach the AFC Championship or Adams becomes an All-Pro this season. 

Davante Adams Fractured Relationship with the Raiders

It’s been clear that things weren't going smoothly between Adams and the Raiders, with reports claiming the six-time Pro Bowler wasn't too happy in Vegas after the team let Derek Carr walk. Adams was traded by the Packers to team up with Carr in 2022 but was unwilling to remain a Raider after the quarterback was shipped to New Orleans. 

The Raiders failed to make the playoffs last season with Aidan O'Connell at starting quarterback and their lackluster off-season was enough to put Adams over the edge. It has been rumored that he requested a trade as far back as August and it was only a matter of time before a team in dire need of offensive reinforcement swung into action.

The Jets Now Have a Superstar Receiver

Adams had been linked to the Jets for a while now, with Forbes Contributor Vincent Frank reporting that the two-time league receiving touchdown leader approached the Raiders front office with his list of preferred teams, including the Jets. 

The trade definitely did not come as a surprise to many, and the Jets organization now have another offensive weapon that could help salvage what is tending towards a woeful season. The Jets had just fallen 2-4 in the season after a painful loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Off-season acquisition Mike Williams suffered a nasty injury during Rodgers’ game-winning interception against the Bills, leaving the No. 2 receiver spot vacant.

Adams’ trade will definitely serve as some consolation for New York hopefuls, with the team’s offense now reinforced. The 31-year-old reunites with his former Packers teammate in New York, a flourishing partnership the football world witnessed during Rodgers's back-to-back MVPs campaign. The Jets are in desperation mode this season and with General Manager Joe Douglas’ job on the line, but Davante Adams could be of help if he stays healthy.

The Jets have been far from convincing though, and adding Adams to team up with an ageing quarterback may likely not solve their problems. Kicker Greg Zuerlein has struggled this season, and the team’s O-line has been horrific to watch.

What the Bookmakers Are Saying

Despite the many gaps, bookmakers still consider the Jets one of the top teams with a decent shot at winning the Lombardi trophy next February. DraftKings Sportsbook, for example, has the Jets at +3000 to win the Super Bowl, following the trade, giving them the 12th best odds to win it all. NFL.com also gives the Jets a 55% chance of making the playoffs.

New Jersey residents seeking to bet on the Jets all season long can make the most of this guide by TrustnBet to learn how they can place bets in the state. 

Can Davante Adams Help the Jets Make the Playoffs?

In a perfect scenario, both Rodgers and Adams should clique like old times and spark life into a dying New York offense. But unfortunately, we’re talking about a soon-to-be 32-year-old receiver who has been sidelined this season due to a hamstring injury. 

Adams is far from the flashy receiver we knew him to be during his time in Green Bay. His stats have been in decline over the last two years playing with the Raiders (2022 - 1,516 yards and 15.2-yard average, 2023 - 1,144 and 11.1-yard average). He wasn't stellar in the three games he played for the Raiders, with 18 catches, 209 receiving yards, and one touchdown.

Adams will play alongside the not-so-fit Rodgers who missed the whole of the 2023 season after suffering an ACL tear in his Jets’ debut. Rodgers is still one of the league’s best quarterbacks, no doubt, but health concerns continue to fester for the 40-year-old.

Aside from Adams’ current form and health, it would likely take some time for him to adjust after switching teams mid-season, which could mean kissing this season goodbye for the Jets by the time he gets going. A loss to the Bills at home means Buffalo now has the edge if it all comes down to tie-breakers at the end of the regular season. Given the current form of the other two teams in the AFC East, the Jets will have registered at least 10 total wins this season to clinch a playoff berth.

Jets Seek to Make Playoffs for the First Time in 14 Years

The Jets are on the wrong side of history when it comes to making the playoffs. It's been 14 consecutive years since the franchise made it to the postseason, the longest drought in NFL history. 

Their last trip to the playoffs was in 2011 when they made it to the AFC Championship game for the second year in a row but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19. Ironically, it was the same season Aaron Rodgers won his only Super Bowl to date, leading the Packers to a 31-25 win and winning the Super Bowl MVP award. It's also the last time Rodgers made it to the Super Bowl, despite being one of the league’s best players in the last decade. 

Rodgers and the Jets will hope to snap the playoff curse this season, and with Adams now in the mix, this could finally be the year for Jets nation. But first, they have some catching up to do in the AFC East and lots of improvements to make to salvage what is left of the season.

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