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The Raiders have been steadfast all season: They were not interested in trading Davante Adams, despite the ongoing rumor. Adams also did his best to quell the rumors, including one sparked by former Packers teammate and current Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who said he was looking forward to playing with Adams “again.”

But even though the Raiders and Adams denied wanting to trade him, it always felt like that could quickly change if the Raiders struggled to start the season.

And now here we are, with Las Vegas at 2-2, Adams telling the team he would “prefer” to be traded, according to multiple reports, and the Raiders telling other teams they are open to trading him, for the right price?

So where do the Jets come from, and what are their chances of landing him?

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A trade would make sense for the Jets for several reasons, but the biggest reasons are clear: Rodgers has repeatedly identified Adams as his all-time favorite target, and Adams said during the offseason that if he were traded, he would be open. for a reunion with Rodgers — all of which is understandable since the two combined for more than 8,000 yards and 70 touchdowns in eight seasons in Green Bay.

So there is clearly a will from Rodgers and Adams to make this happen. And while adding another wide receiver isn’t the biggest priority right now for a Jets team that has a No. 1 pick in Garrett Wilson, a steadily improving Mike Williams and a solid third receiver, with Allen Lazard looking more like the man who they thought they were signing in 2023, there’s no doubt Adams would help them – especially when it comes to the defense supporting Wilson with a cornerback and a safety, which has led to a slow start to the season

So what’s the delay? Compensation. According to ESPN, the Raiders are looking for “a package that would include a second-round pick and additional compensation.”

That would be a steep price for the Jets, especially since there’s no guarantee they can keep him past 2024, when they’ll have to rework his contract (which no longer has guaranteed money) for what will surely be a pay cut. .

The Jets can afford to pay the price because they have two third-round picks in next year’s draft thanks to a Draft Week trade with the Lions in April.

There’s also the real issue of Adams’ 2024 salary.

If the Jets were to trade for Adams today, they would owe him a prorated $13.1 million of his $16.9 million base salary. Of course, that number is dropping every week (by $938,333, to be exact). So the closer we get to the trade deadline, the more affordable a trade becomes. It’s also harder for the Raiders to ask for more compensation with each passing week. Adams isn’t traded, which reduces the impact he can make as a “hire” for a new one. team.

Ultimately this will come down to money and compensation. Is there any other team that wants Adams more than the Jets and will be willing to give up more in return? That could certainly happen, even with Adams showing signs of a slight slowdown as his 32nd birthday looms in December.

But the bigger question is whether Woody Johnson will be willing to spend the money needed to land Adams, especially considering the Jets are already paying Williams and Lazard more than $15 million for this season.

That remains to be seen, but given the Jets’ unwillingness to negotiate with Haason Reddick, who they already have under contract, it’s far from a lock, even if it feels like the Jets are the most likely landing spot.