Suddenly, the Miami Dolphins’ biggest strength (at least on paper) isn’t even the strongest in their own division.
The trade that sent Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets not only made the Dolphins’ path to the playoffs more difficult, it gave their AFC East rival the best trio of wide receivers not just in the division — but the entire NFL.
Dolphins vs. Jets Receivers After Davante Adams Trade
Before the analysis, here are the facts as we know them as of Tuesday morning.
According to ESPN, the Jets are sending the Raiders a third-round pick that would become a second if Adams is named an All-Pro or is on the active roster for the AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl.
The Jets are assuming all of Adams’ remaining 2024 salary (roughly $11.6 million). Adams is under contract through 2026, but none of his next two years’ salaries (both $35.6 million) is guaranteed.
That’s good news for a Jets team that could be in rebuild mode if things continue to go sideways. New York is 2-4 and currently the AFC’s 10th seed and has already fired head coach Robert Saleh.
This deal feels like a Hail Mary to both save their season (not to mention general manager Joe Douglas’ job) and to satiate their moody quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who all but blamed Mike Williams for his game-losing interception late in regulation Monday night.
Rodgers had this explanation as to why he threw a deep pick to Buffalo Bills DB Taron Johnson inside of two minutes:
“It’s two vertical [routes]. Allen [Lazard] is down the seam and Mike is down the red line. I’m looking at Allen, he puts his hand up and three guys go with him. So I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. And when I peek my eyes back there, [Williams] is running an in-breaker. He’s got to be on the red line. It’s the little things every single time.”
Rodgers can never complain again now that two of his top three targets — Lazard and Adams — are handpicked. Adams and Rodgers connected for 69 touchdowns and more than 7,500 yards (per ESPN stats) during their time together in Green Bay.
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams during their time in Green Bay:
🏈622 receptions
🏈7,590 receiving yards
🏈69 TDsNow they’re back together with the Jets.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 15, 2024
Throw in dynamic wideout Garrett Wilson, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any better trio in all of football. That includes Miami, which has gobs of (as of now, underused due to Tua Tagovailoa’s injury situation) talent in Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr.
But don’t take our word for it. Check the numbers.
Miami Dolphins Receivers
Tyreek Hill
- Age: 30
- 2024 stats: 23 catches, 286 yards (12.4 average), 1 touchdown
- Career stats: 740 catches, 10,425 yards (14.1), 77 touchdowns
- 2024 cash/salary cap: $26.3 million/$18.3 million
Jaylen Waddle
- Age: 25
- 2024 stats: 21 catches, 258 yards (12.3), 0 touchdowns
- Career stats: 272 catches. 3,643 yards (13.4), 18 touchdowns
- 2024 cash/salary cap: $19.9 million/$9.1 million
Odell Beckham Jr.
- Age: 31
- 2024 stats: 0 catches
- Career stats: 566 catches, 7,932 yards (14.0), 59 touchdowns
- 2024 cash/salary cap: $3 million/$2.1 million
New York Jets Receivers
Davante Adams
- Age: 31
- 2024 stats: 18 catches, 209 yards (11.6), 1 touchdown
- Career stats: 890 catches, 10,990 yards (12.3), 96 touchdowns
- 2024 cash/salary cap (Jets obligations only): $11.6 million/$11.6 million
Garrett Wilson
- Age: 24
- 2024 stats: 41 catches, 399 yards (9.7), 3 touchdowns
- Career stats: 219 catches, 2,544 yards (11.6), 10 touchdowns
- 2024 cash/salary cap: $2.6 million/$5.6 million
- Age: 28
- 2024 stats: 26 catches, 354 yards (13.6), 5 touchdowns
- Career stats: 218 catches, 2,901 yards (13.3), 26 touchdowns
- 2024 cash/salary cap: $10 million/$12.2 million
