Insider says Jets are 'confident' about possible Davante Adams trade

Disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams continues to be linked with the New York Jets, as he's close with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and was his teammate with the Green Bay Packers from 2014 through the 2021 season.

NFL/Jets insider Connor Hughes of SNY indicated on Thursday the Jets are confident they'll acquire Adams before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. 

"He wants to be here," one Jets source said about Adams, "and we want him here." 

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints have also been mentioned as potential landing spots for Adams, who previously played alongside New Orleans' Derek Carr at Fresno State and for a single season with the Raiders. Tashan Reed of The Athletic mentioned that Adams' contract does not include a no-trade clause, but the 31-year-old could threaten to restructure a deal with massive base salaries attached to it only for a team of his choosing. 

"Most around the league SNY touched base with believe a deal sending Adams to New York will happen," Hughes said. 

Understandably, Rodgers would want his favorite target to join the Jets immediately. The future Hall of Famer lacked chemistry with certain offensive weapons as New York dropped two of its first four games of the ongoing campaign. The Jets could fall to 2-3 when they face the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday. 

Rodgers turns 41 in December and hinted this past summer he could retire after the 2025 season. 

Hughes said the Raiders want "a second-round draft pick plus" in return for Adams' services. That's a small price to pay, considering it's no secret that Jets owner Woody Johnson will almost certainly clean house and part ways with general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh if the club does not at least end what is now the longest active playoff drought among the four major North American sports leagues.

Former Jets quarterback and current NFL analyst Boomer Esiason said on Wednesday he "wouldn’t be surprised if" Adams is with the club "next week." While Hughes acknowledged that "nothing is imminent" regarding a trade, he also said such a deal "does feel inevitable." 

One wonders if the Raiders could up their asking price for Adams if the Jets lose to the Vikings on Sunday.