Davante Adams moved from the Raiders to the Jets

The Las Vegas Raiders traded star wide receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets on Tuesday for a third-round pick that can become a second-round pick.

Here are some initial thoughts on the deal:

It was time:

It’s been a long two weeks since this saga began. It was clear that Adams would not play for the Raiders again, despite rumors that he might. This distraction had to end. Now it’s time for the 2-4 Raiders to focus on putting their season together and moving on behind coach Antonio Pierce.

Hard compensation;

When trade talks began, it was reported that the Raiders wanted a second-round pick and more for Adams. It was also reported that the Raiders could have gotten more than a second-round pick if they had traded Adams before starting. Now they will likely get a third-round pick for Adams since the terms of turning that into a second-round pick are unlikely. Adams has missed three games and the Jets are 2-4, so these conditions are unlikely. ESPN reported that Raiders owner Mark Davis stood by his demand of wanting a second-round pick for Adams. So he can’t be happy with that.

Money matters:

The Raiders did not pay back any part of Adams’ contract through 2024 in the deal. So that saves Davis money. There is a lot of dead money for the Raiders this season and next. Keep in mind that the Raiders would likely have shortened or restructured Adams’ contract next year if he had stayed.

Bad investment:

It’s safe to say the Raiders’ trade for Adams from the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 blockbuster didn’t work out well. The Raiders gave up first- and second-round picks in the deal and paid him $56 million. In the games Adams played for the Raiders, they posted a 15-22 record. The Raiders had seven first-round picks from 2019 to 2022 and none of the assets from those picks remain on the roster.

Be careful what you wish for:

Adams has been substituted twice in his career and achieved his desired landing spot both times. Things didn’t work out when he was reunited with Derek Carr in Las Vegas, and now he’s hoping for a better story when he reunites with his Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But the Jets, like the Raiders, are 2-4 and there is dysfunction in the organization. Adams wanted to leave Las Vegas because he didn’t think they could win. Well, is he really in a better place?

Next year?

Because of his contract, there is no guarantee that Adams will be a Jet in 2025. he could be a free agent in five months. If so, don’t discount his return to the AFC West. The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers will likely be in the market for a veteran wide receiver.

Lecture draft:

The Raiders now have an additional pick that will help them get their quarterback of the future in 2025. Will the Raiders make more trades? They have a few players on their roster that they can move before the November 5th trade deadline as they look to go into full fire sale mode.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Life after Adams:

The Raiders have 11 games left this season. The offense will revolve around star rookie tight end Brock Bowers, with Jaokbi Myers and Tre Tucker likely to be the starting receivers as they try to rally around quarterback Aidan O’Connell in the post-Adams season.