Jets Release All-Pro WR Davante Adams, Will Steelers Pursue?
The New York Jets are releasing All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Adams said this past January that he would 100% play for Mike Tomlin. Could the Pittsburgh Steelers swoop in and sign the highly talented wide receiver?
“Oh, 100 percent,” Adams said. “I love Mike. I think anytime you have a coach that’s a players coach and you can tell they’ve got a way with their guys, those types of coaches, whether they coach me or not, they always win me over.
“I’ve had nothing but respect for him and it’s been mutual. He’s talked to me during some games,” Adams added “That says a lot about him. Obviously, a great coach, but he’s a hell of a dude, too.”
Pittsburgh had an interest in trying to acquire Adams last season from the Las Vegas Raiders. Ultimately, the Jets outbid the Steelers with both draft capital and the presence of Adams’ long-time quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
Adams and Rodgers had a rough end of the season as the Jets faltered. This led to the decision of the new Jets regime to move on from Rodgers and inevitably Adams. To say the least, it’s not surprising that the Jets couldn’t find a trade partner for Adams’ $36.25 million contract.
Adams has amassed 957 catches for 11,844 yards and 103 touchdowns in his 11-year NFL career. The 32-year-old is on the backend of his career, but he still proved to be a viable option in 2024 while recording 85 catches for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets.
The Steelers’ options at receiver may grow between now and then. For now, Pittsburgh may look at routes they explored last year via trade.
The Steelers have acknowledged that adding to the wide receiver room this offseason is a significant priority, and that the group they ran with last year did not get the job done. It wouldn’t be surprising if the team bolstered the corps in free agency and the draft.
“It’s obviously a priority,” general manager Omar Khan said last week. “I’m not going to run from that. It’s just the reality. We have some guys that are free agents, and we weren’t good enough at that position. So we’ll look at everything.”
After failing to address the wide receiver position last year, Khan could correct the fatal flaw on the roster by landing Adams. A Pickens-Adams wide receiver duo could be lethal.