NFL Trade Deadline Grades: Davante Adams Traded from Raiders to Jets
With the NFL trade deadline looming on Nov. 5, let's dive into the first major deal: the Las Vegas Raiders sending Davante Adams to the New York Jets. This blockbuster trade reunites Adams with his former Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Here, I'll grade the deal for both teams by evaluating the on-field impact, cap implications, and future outlook, while also considering the Jets' Super Bowl aspirations and the Raiders' long-term rebuild.
New York Jets get: WR Davante Adams
Las Vegas Raiders get: Conditional third-round pick
Trade date: Oct. 15
Grade for the Jets: A-
Despite a rocky 2-4 start and the firing of their head coach just a week ago, the New York Jets made a bold move by reuniting Rodgers with one of his most trusted targets, Davante Adams. It’s a risky but well-calculated gamble. The Jets were already all-in on Rodgers, banking on his twilight years to give them a shot at a Super Bowl. Their defense is elite, but the offense had clear deficiencies—most notably a lack of weapons alongside Garrett Wilson.
Adding Adams gives Rodgers a familiar and reliable receiver who can be the missing piece to an underperforming offense. While Adams may not be the unstoppable force he once was, he’s still a top-15 to top-20 receiver. His ability to create separation and build instant chemistry with Rodgers is something no other wideout on the market could offer. Although his metrics—such as yards per route run and open score—have dipped in recent years, he remains a significant upgrade for a team that needs immediate results.
What makes this trade a win for the Jets is that they didn’t have to mortgage their future to make it happen. The conditional third-round pick, which could turn into a second-rounder if things go well, is a manageable price for a team in win-now mode. Plus, they’re only responsible for a prorated portion of his $17 million salary for the rest of 2024. Even if Adams turns out to be a one-year rental, it’s a move that aligns with their short-term aspirations, and the Jets are betting on upside.
This trade isn’t about playing it safe—it’s about seizing an opportunity. New York knows their Super Bowl window with Rodgers is small, and acquiring Adams could help keep it open. The offense looked revitalized in Monday’s narrow loss to the Bills under new playcaller Todd Downing, and Adams' arrival should further elevate their chances of making a playoff push. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Jets' odds of making the postseason are hovering around 46%, and this deal should only increase those numbers.
Ultimately, the Jets are going for broke, and while the most likely scenario is that this trade doesn’t single-handedly take them to the Super Bowl, it gives them a fighting chance. That’s worth an A- grade.
Grade for the Raiders: B-
The Raiders' decision to move on from Davante Adams was long overdue, but once they found themselves at this juncture, they made the right call by trading him. The Raiders have been stuck in a cycle of mediocrity, with Adams aging and his value slowly decreasing. Trading him now, as opposed to holding out for a more substantial haul that may never materialize, was the pragmatic move.
However, it’s hard not to criticize how the Raiders got to this point. They should have traded Adams at least a year earlier when his value was much higher. By holding on to him, they essentially squandered the opportunity to extract maximum value from a star asset. While a conditional third-round pick isn't a bad return for a 32-year-old receiver with declining production, it pales in comparison to what Vegas could have received had they moved him earlier.
That said, given the state of the Raiders—who are 3-3 but far from contending—the decision to offload Adams was inevitable. The Raiders also failed to offload part of Adams’ salary, which could have netted them additional draft compensation. With significant cap space available in 2024 and 2025, they could have absorbed some of his contract in exchange for better draft picks. Whether or not this was offered by the Jets, we don’t know, but missing that potential opportunity is a slight misstep in maximizing their return.
Overall, the B- grade reflects the Raiders' poor handling of the Adams saga up until this trade, but it gives credit for making the right move under the circumstances. Las Vegas can now fully pivot toward rebuilding, and while the return wasn’t ideal, it’s better than holding on to a declining star for little gain.
This trade represents two teams at very different stages in their competitive timelines. The Jets are pushing all their chips in, chasing the Super Bowl dream with Aaron Rodgers, while the Raiders are finally accepting the need to rebuild by parting ways with a star receiver. For New York, it’s a high-reward, low-risk gamble that could pay off in the short term. For Las Vegas, it’s a missed opportunity to maximize value but ultimately a necessary step in their long-term strategy.
As more deals unfold before the deadline, we’ll see how teams navigate the balance between chasing immediate success and building for the future. For now, this blockbuster trade sets the tone for a critical stretch of the NFL season.
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