Antwan Staley: Davante Adams will help the offense, but the Jets have bigger issues

NEW YORK — Aaron Rodgers was clearly agitated when he came to the podium after Monday night’s 23-20 loss to the Bills.

But the quarterback likely feels more optimistic after the Jets acquired his old friend Davante Adams in a trade with the Raiders on Tuesday.

Gang Green sent Las Vegas a conditional third-round pick in next year’s draft that could become a second-round pick.

“Obviously bittersweet after what happened,” Rodgers said. “It’s exciting, Tae and I have done a lot of great things. He has made me look good a lot of times. So, I’m really excited about it, I think it is exciting for our team. We definitely got better today thanks to Joe [Douglas] making it happen, Woody [Johnson] and Chris [Johnson] pulling the trigger.”

The question is, how much better does Adams make the Jets?

The 2024 season hasn’t gone the way the Jets planned. During the offseason and training camp, players and coaches alike thought the Jets not only had an opportunity to end a 13-year playoff drought, but the general expectation was they would be competing for a Super Bowl.

But with a 2-4 record, that certainly hasn’t been the case. However, the trade for Adams has injected new life into a team with offensive problems during the season’s first six weeks.

The Jets are ranked 22nd in yards (304.3) and points per game (18.8). That’s a major reason the Jets fired Robert Saleh after three-plus seasons and made defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the interim coach. This is also why the Jets changed play-callers from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to Todd Downing.

The addition of Adams should help the Jets improve their red zone efficiency. Adams can reach up and grab the ball at its highest point over defenders, which he displayed when he played with Rodgers for eight seasons.

Gang Green currently ranks 18th in red zone scoring percentage (52.9%).

While it’s been two-plus seasons since Adams and Rodgers played together, it shouldn’t take much time to regenerate that same chemistry. Adams knows the Jets playbook because it is the same offense he played under in Green Bay since Hackett was his offensive coordinator during the 2021 season, his final year with the Packers.

Adams’ presence should help young wide receiver Garrett Wilson because defenses will likely stop dedicating all of their resources to slowing him down. During the season’s first four games, defenses keyed in on Wilson, who caught just 20 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.

Having a playmaker like Adams should also help running back Breece Hall and the rushing attack, which ranks 30th in the league in yards per game (87.2).

However, just because they added Adams does not mean that it solves all of the Jets’ issues. One can also argue that this trade was a bit of a panic move by Jets owner Johnson and general manager Douglas.

In addition to not scoring touchdowns inside the 20-yard line, the Jets have a kicking problem. Greg Zuerlein missed two chip-shot field goals against the Bills and three in his last three games.

“Everything you take a hard look at, but I’m not concerned with Greg,” Ulbrich said after Monday’s game. “I know the track record of this man and I know he is going to catch his rhythm here and we’re going to roll.”

The Jets’ run defense also continues to be an issue. Although their defense ranks second in yards allowed (273), the Jets are giving up 124.2 rushing yards per game (17th). In the loss against the Bills, the Jets’ defense allowed 149 yards on the ground, and Buffalo’s starting running back James Cook didn’t play due to a toe injury.

The Jets also had 11 penalties against the Bills and have the second-most penalties in the league (50). Only the Texans (51) have committed more infractions than the Jets this season.

Lastly, the Jets’ offensive line, which was supposed to be a strength entering the season, is a significant weakness. During their three-game losing streak, Rodgers has been sacked 11 times and hit 30 times.

From the moment they acquired Rodgers in a trade with the Packers in 2023, the Jets pushed all their chips into the middle of the table and have been all-in. During his introductory press conference after he was traded, Rodgers said the Jets’ “Super Bowl III trophy is looking a little lonely.”

The Jets felt a sense of urgency to make the trade for Adams because of what is at stake this season. There will be wholesale changes if the Jets miss the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season. That also includes Rodgers and Adams, as both could be gone if the Jets have another losing record, and the team will rebuild for what seems like the millionth time since 2010.

Not only would the Jets not likely bring Ulbrich back as the permanent coach, but the roster would also look entirely different. During the spring, Rodgers told reporters, “I think if I don’t do what I know I’m capable of doing, we’re all probably going to be out of here.”

Rodgers is correct. The Jets have put themselves in a corner and felt like they had to go for it now. Because of that, it’s time for the Jets to produce on the field after giving Rodgers almost everything he has wanted.

Rodgers will eventually go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as one of the best quarterbacks ever no matter what happens with the Jets. But if this does not work out and the Jets miss the playoffs again, it will be a black mark on what has been a tremendous career.