Insider addresses Jets, Davante Adams trade rumors after Robert Saleh firing

On Wednesday, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio suggested that it became "less likely" the New York Jets will acquire disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline after Jets owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday. 

For a mailbag published on Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote that the Jets are now "maybe even more so" the favorite to land Adams following Tuesday's development. 

"Aaron Rodgers wants it to happen," Breer said, "and there’s little question that Rodgers has leverage in that building. Plus, it’s Adams' desired result, too. The Raiders don’t have to acquiesce, of course, but if a team is going to give up something of value for a guy of Adams' age (he’ll be 32 on Dec. 24) and stature, that team will want him on board with the trade." 

The Jets were repeatedly linked with Adams throughout the summer largely because he had Rodgers as his quarterback when the two were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2014-21. Adams also played alongside New Orleans Saints signal-caller Derek Carr in college and with the Raiders, but Carr is expected to miss multiple games due to an oblique injury.

For what it's worth, Rodgers said during a Wednesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he thinks "it’s interesting the amount of power people think I have" within the Jets. It was reported before Green Bay traded Rodgers to New York in the spring of 2023 that he "supplied the Jets with a wish list of free agents" he wanted the AFC East club to sign, some of whom ultimately joined the organization. 

As recently as Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers were named as a possible destination for Adams after they struck out in their pursuit of San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk during the offseason. Nevertheless, Breer insisted that the Jets "probably" are the favorites to win the Adams sweepstakes. 

Interim Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich has replaced offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett with quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Todd Downing as the team's offensive play-caller. Perhaps Downing will show when the 2-3 Jets host the 3-2 Buffalo Bills this coming Monday night that New York doesn't necessarily need to go all-in on trading for Adams.