Bold Prediction: Jets Will Sign, Trade For 2 Future Hall-of-Fame Receivers?
It's no secret that the New York Jets could use a second capable receiver to play opposite of WR1 Garrett Wilson.
With upgrading the offense around quarterback Aaron Rodgers seemingly a top offseason priority at 1 Jets Drive, Sports Illustrated predicts that New York will land one of the most-accomplished receivers of the past decade.
In what is becoming an annual post Super Bowl tradition, SI senior writer Conor Orr has made one bold prediction for each of the 32 NFL teams heading into the offseason. When it comes to Gang Green, Orr projects "the Jets will bring in either Davante Adams or Mike Evans."
Although both receivers are closer to the end than the beginning of their legendary careers, Adams and Evans remain amongst the top producers in the NFL. Their receiving yards and touchdown totals from last season would've ranked first on the Jets.
Adams, a six-time Pro Bowler, thrived as a Green Bay Packer with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. In 2023, his second season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Adams made 103 receptions for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns.
Evans, who has spent his whole career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, started all 17 games last season. He totaled 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns on 79 catches.
For a team like the Jets, who posted only six touchdown receptions by wide receivers in 2023, the pursuit of Adams and Evans certainly makes sense, but what is the actual likelihood of securing one of the star pass-catchers?
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The fact that the 31-year-old Adams is still under contract with the Raiders makes acquiring him more of a dream than a reality. Although Rodgers has been rumored to be on the recruiting trail, multiple sources have confirmed that Las Vegas has little to no interest in parting ways with the reliable receiver.
The 30-year-old Evans is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but the Buccaneers are likely heavily interested in keeping him around. Evans can probably command a contract with a $22+ million average annual value, but that can be viewed as a relative bargain for a receiver who has produced 10 consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns.
Writes SI:
"The Jets will bring in either Davante Adams or Mike Evans. I initially had the Jets drafting an offensive tackle in the first round as my bold prediction, but that wouldn’t necessarily qualify as bold, would it? The Jets are hoping for a banner year from a 40-year-old quarterback who moves aggressively in the pocket, and travels a great distance with some complex footwork on a turf field whilst playing behind a patchwork offensive line. So, here’s bold: The Jets are going to hop on the veteran wide receiver market because, let’s be honest, the owner of this football team will go scorched earth if the Jets don’t make the playoffs."
