The trade that seemed inevitable for months finally materialized Tuesday when the Las Vegas Raiders sent star wide receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets for a conditional 2025 third-round draft pick.

The Raiders get a draft asset to help them rebuild, and the Jets get another win-now player they hope can change the course of their season. Within seven days, the Jets fired coach Robert Saleh and made this blockbuster trade that could help quarterback Aaron Rodgers and ignite their inconsistent offense.

From 2014 to 2021, Rodgers and Adams combined for 615 receptions, 7,529 yards and 68 touchdowns. They were the NFL’s second most productive tandem during that period, behind only Matt Ryan and Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons.

The Jets will receive Adams’ remaining salary this season – $11.59 million, a significant investment for owner Woody Johnson. Adams is under contract through 2026, but his salary in 2025 and 2026 ($36.25 million) is not guaranteed. Unless they renegotiate the deal, it’s basically a one-year deal. — Rich Cimini

With two shocking moves in two weeks, are the Jets in panic mode?

Is there perhaps a fine line between all-in and panic? The Jets and Johnson have made it clear that they expect to win in 2024. Their last two losses, one loss each to the first-place Vikings and Bills, are proof that they are not far away. The Jets are 2-4 with 11 games left in a division that looks winnable. Finding another elite playmaker with whom he has proven he has chemistry with his future Hall of Fame quarterback shows more urgency than panic. The Jets know the composition of the team could be different in 2025, but the Saleh and Adams moves were only made with 2024 in mind. This is an organization that feels it has no choice but to try. – Jeremy Fowler

How does Adams fit into the Jets’ offense?

It’s difficult to integrate a new receiver into an offense during the season, but that’s not a typical situation because of the previous chemistry between Adams and Rodgers. Once upon a time, they were magical together. They shared the rare telepathy that great receivers and quarterbacks possess. You may not be able to recapture it by flicking a switch, but it shouldn’t take that long. Your background is why this might actually work. The playbook will be interesting. Adams knows offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett from their time together in Green Bay (2020-2021), but Hackett — who was demoted last week — is no longer calling the shots or making the plays. They still run his system, but it wasn’t his system in Green Bay; it was Matt LaFleur’s. This will require some adjustments for Adams. — Cimini

What does this mean for Garrett Wilson, the Jets’ current No. 1 receiver?

Just when Wilson finally develops a good thing with Rodgers…boom! He is no longer the WR1. The Jets will say they now have two No. 1 receivers, but let’s be realistic: Wilson, who has 21 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games, will no longer be “The Guy.” He can be the co-guy. You have to wonder how this will impact the chemistry in the receiver room and the team as a whole. First off, it looks like Mike Williams will be the odd man out of the rotation. Wilson, Adams and Allen Lazard (another Rodgers guy from Green Bay) will be the top three. How will they react if this becomes The Rodgers Adams Show? Last week, Wilson said it would be “cool” to take over for Adams; He indicated that he would be in favor of anything that would help them win games. But receivers like targets, and Adams’ arrival will impact Wilson’s target share. — Cimini

How much does the addition of Adams improve the Jets’ playoff chances?

There’s no doubt the addition of Adams helps. ESPN’s Football Power Index projects the Jets to have a 46% chance of making the playoffs as of Tuesday morning. That’s 16th in the NFL and eighth in the AFC. This model doesn’t update for non-QB roster moves, but we can see that the Jets’ playoff betting odds at ESPN BET increased from +155 to +145 – or about 1.5 percentage points.

I’m just looking at it myself, it feels easy. Adams is worth more to the Jets than anyone else because he and Rodgers have instant chemistry. And even though the team is 2-4, it still has a great defense, now has three great offensive playmakers (Adams, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall) and Rodgers at center. I think it increases the Jets’ playoff chances by more than the current odds reflect. — Seth Walder

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How did Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams reunite?

Adam Schefter talks Davante Adams reuniting with Aaron Rodgers and when Adams might make his Jets debut.

The Raiders now have three Day 2 picks in next year’s draft to match their first-rounder. Where do they need to upgrade the most?

The Raiders are now up to eight draft picks in 2025 and could get into double figures with a few compensatory picks. With the inconsistent play of Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew, this franchise has a huge hole in the middle and needs to address it before the 2025 season. Las Vegas missed quarterbacks in 2024, missing six before finishing at No. 13. Expect the Raiders to draft a passer early in the first round in April.

It’s considered a down QB class, and I only have two signal-callers with first-round picks – Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward (Georgia’s Carson Beck is also there). Both would be worthy of a top-10 pick — Sanders is super-accurate and Ward has incredible arm talent — but the Raiders may have to move up for their guy to avoid missing out again. This is where the additional Day 2 pick comes in handy, giving them an additional advantage to gain for their future quarterback. Also look for Vegas to take a look at the offensive tackles and receivers in this class in Rounds 2-3. – Jordan Reid

Does this move put the Raiders in rebuilding mode?

Not necessarily. Three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby is still on the roster and coach Antonio Pierce wants to continue winning games. The Raiders’ receiving room, however, has a new vibe to it – younger and faster, if significantly less accomplished.

Jakobi Meyers is the new WR1, and he already played that role in New England before signing with Las Vegas. Tre Tucker and DJ Turner are both deep threats and threats in the running game.

One sign that the Raiders could be completely rebuilding is the move back to second-year QB Aidan O’Connell. Closing or trading Crosby would also be telling. Remember, the Raiders were essentially in a Jayden Daniels or distrust mode entering the draft last spring, and if the Raiders had been able to pull off a massive trade to move up and To finally secure the number 2 spot, things might have turned out differently.

Instead, Adams had two coaches, three GMs, three offensive playcallers and six QBs during his tenure with the Raiders.

And with first-year GM Tom Telesco’s job security not really in question, perhaps he does have the resources from owner Mark Davis to complete a complete rebuild. – Paul Gutierrez

Should fantasy managers look to trade for Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers, or anyone else as quickly as possible?

Hey, good for the Jets, I guess, but it’s hard to see how this trade will suddenly solve all the problems. Fantasy managers should think similarly. Rodgers was a top-five fantasy QB in 2021 (and the eight seasons before that), but he hasn’t played well since. Adding Adams can’t hurt, but it’s assumed that Allen Lazard or Mike Williams were holding him back statistically. The Jets still have two very relevant young running backs. So don’t expect them to give up on that part of the offense. Rodgers moved up several spots in my end-of-season rankings, but didn’t crack the top 15 at the deep position. He averages 14.3 PPR points per game, which ranks 23rd among QBs. He’s not going to suddenly average 20 PPG. Adams should fulfill the expected commitments of a WR2 option, but teammate Garrett Wilson is more valuable. The Jets offense is better today, but these aren’t the Packers versions of Rodgers and Adams, so keep expectations well in check. – Eric Karabell