If the New York Jets are unable to acquire Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams via trade, they may consider a different pass catcher.
David Kenyon of Bleacher Report proposed several “absurd” trade ideas that NFL teams should explore as alternatives to a Davante Adams move.
New York Jets receive: wide receiver Deebo Samuel
San Francisco 49ers receive: a 2025 third-round draft choice
“If the Jets are truly all-in, they might as well pursue Davante Adams. However, a more strategic backup plan could be Samuel, who has built his reputation on being dynamic in the open field. With Aaron Rodgers not thriving on downfield passes anymore, an elusive playmaker like Samuel could provide a much-needed boost.
A change of scenery could also benefit him,” Kenyon explained. “New York could send one of its two 2025 third-round selections to San Francisco, which might be comfortable moving on from Samuel as long as veterans [Brandon] Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings produce and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall develops.”
Jets Almost Acquired Samuel in a Previous Trade with the 49ers
In the lead-up to the 2022 NFL draft, the Jets were actively pursuing a big-name wide receiver.
Tyreek Hill and Deebo Samuel were among the top targets for the Jets. Hill chose the Miami Dolphins over the Jets, and while Gang Green tried to make a move for Samuel, San Francisco ultimately rejected their offer.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Jets proposed a trade package to the 49ers for Samuel that included the No. 10 overall pick in the first round back in 2022.
San Francisco said no, leading the Jets to stick with their pick, ultimately selecting Garrett Wilson out of Ohio State. It’s interesting how things have changed since then.
Fast forward two years, and the Jets could potentially land Samuel for a fraction of the cost they would have paid two years ago.
The Jets gained an extra third-round pick due to their draft-day trade with the Detroit Lions in April.
Jets Rookie Has Not Met Expectations
Once again, trade rumors surrounding Samuel emerged this offseason. The Jets were in search of a reliable second option to complement Garrett Wilson, which led some to speculate that Samuel could fit that role.
However, the team opted to go the draft route, trading up for Malachi Corley out of Western Kentucky. He was labeled “Deebo Samuel 2.0” due to his stocky build and ability to break tackles.
In theory, they acquired a player with similar abilities at a much lower financial cost.
Despite the hype, Corley has only caught one pass this season for four receiving yards. Perhaps the comparisons to Samuel were too optimistic for the young player. However, it’s difficult to assess Corley’s potential since he hasn’t been given much playing time.
There must be a reason the Jets are hesitant to play him, but regardless, the team needs to find another solution at the wide receiver position.
If Samuel is available for a modest third-round pick, it could serve as a viable backup plan should the Adams trade discussions with the Raiders stall.
