The New York Jets plan to release veteran superstar wide receiver Davante Adams, according to multiple national reports. The Jets hoped to trade Adams before mid-March's start of the new league year, but it didn't happen.
Adams was acquired midseason by the previous regime to appease starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. New general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn are planning to release Rodgers. Adams will understandably follow him out the exit door, potentially teaming up again at their next destination.
Adams is past his prime, but the six-time Pro Bowler still surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth consecutive campaign in 2024. There will be league-wide interest in his services. We've identified three potential landing spots.
New York Giants
The New York Giants have been heavily linked to acquiring Rodgers as their bridge quarterback this offseason after failing to convince Matthew Stafford to leave the Los Angeles Rams. General manager Joe Schoen owns the No. 3 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. That does not guarantee him an opportunity to select Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, hence the reported interest in Rodgers.
If Rodgers arrives in East Rutherford, he could potentially request Schoen and Brian Daboll to acquire Adams as well. Adams may need to renegotiate his current contract, but the Giants do possess a healthy $48 million in cap space. He would join a young supporting cast that already features Malik Nabers, Theo Johnson, and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans were linked to a move for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who was ultimately traded to the Washington Commanders over the weekend. If Houston called on Samuel, it proves they're in the market for a veteran receiver. Pivoting to Adams' availability could now be within the realm of possibility for general manager Nick Caserio.
Fellow veteran wideout Stefon Diggs is slated for free agency and replacing him with Adams could make sense. Adams significantly outproduced Diggs throughout the 2024 campaign. Furthermore, Tank Dell is recovering from another serious season-ending injury, creating a need for a playmaker at receiver. The aging Robert Woods is also on an expiring contract. The Texans should stay aggressive while C.J. Stroud remains on his team-friendly rookie deal.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions saw their 2024 campaign reach a disappointing end. They were upset by the Commanders in the divisional round, failing to match last year's NFC Championship Game success. GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell should continue maximizing their open championship window by further improving the roster this offseason.
Adams would offer the Lions a completely different skill set at receiver than they currently possess. He'd be a boundary "X" receiver, complimenting what Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams give Jared Goff at the position right now. Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson are on expiring deals after being back-end contributors in 2024, and their pending departures will make room for a veteran acquisition. The Lions rank 10th in projected cap space with a healthy $51.5 million.
