The NFL offseason is heating up quickly.
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the New York Jets will release wide receiver Davante Adams, a move that will save the team $29.9M in salary-cap space. The Jets have since confirmed the news. It will also open another major vacancy on offense for New York, which also plans to release quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Adams, who has two years left on his Jets deal, could be a hot commodity and likely tied to Rodgers as the two navigate free agency.
Here are three potential landing spots for the three-time All-Pro receiver.
New York Giants
After general manager Joe Schoen couldn’t make contact on a home run swing for Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford on Friday, Rodgers was quickly linked to the Giants as a potential Plan B.
Adams could make for a great pairing with second-year wideout Malik Nabers, who had 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven TD catches as a rookie.
If Schoen were to be so bold as to bring in the soon-to-be former Jets duo, he’d be left with a stuffed WR room. Third-year veteran Jalin Hyatt is already considered “unhappy” with his usage and could be perfect capital to flip.
It would be a high-risk, high-reward gamble, but with his job possibly on the line in 2025, Schoen may want to roll the dice.
San Francisco 49ers
After flipping Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders on Saturday for a fifth-round pick, San Francisco has a massive hole that needs filling.
With sixth-year veteran wideout Brandon Aiyuk recovering from an ACL tear, Adams would be the perfect WR1 replacement. He could act as a safety blanket for head coach Kyle Shanahan if Aiyuk doesn’t return to his 2023 level of production that prompted a four-year, $120M contract extension (h/t: Spotrac).
This would require Adams to part with Rodgers, who would be unlikely to return to the Bay Area (he played at Cal) unless the 49ers and QB Brock Purdy somehow sever ties.
Green Bay Packers
Head coach Matt LeFleur has four talented wideouts for QB Jordan Love but no clear No. 1 star.
Adams is 32, but his production hasn’t dramatically tailed off (1,063 yards receiving in 2024).
With an above-average QB in Love to get him the ball, Adams won’t have to put 1,000-yard-plus receiving seasons in the rearview. This is a move worth exploring for Green Bay.
