Davante Adams is reportedly on the way in a trade that could tip the scales in the AFC playoff race.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that the Las Vegas Raiders are sending the six-time Pro Bowler to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Jets are sending a 2025 third-round pick to the Raiders, who could become a second-round pick if certain performance benchmarks are met.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders will pay “nothing” of Adams’ remaining salary in the deal.

Adams’ long-term future in Las Vegas was a storyline throughout the offseason until his agents went on the record to address “baseless, baseless speculation” and confirm his commitment to the Raiders.

It took four games and a 2-2 start for things to change dramatically.

On October 1, NFL Network’s Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that Adams had told the team he would like to be traded. ESPN’s Adam Schefter quickly added that Las Vegas would “consider” a trade and needed a second-round pick, plus other pieces.

The trade is unlikely to be popular among Raiders fans. Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard, a longtime follower of the franchise, made his opinion clear when the rumors first broke:

Starting next year, Las Vegas would have to think long and hard about whether it wanted to keep Adams after all. He makes one basic salary of $35.6 million in 2025 and 2026 and a cap hit of $44.1 million for those two seasons, and those are big numbers for a team that is so far from contested.

Adams’ production isn’t going in the right direction either.

The 31-year-old was an All-Pro in 2022 and caught 100 passes for 1,516 yards and an NFL-high 14 touchdowns. Since then, he’s averaged less than 12 yards per catch and 70 yards per game. The latter in particular is well below his peak years with the Green Bay Packers.

Perhaps that’s largely due to the Raiders’ inconsistent play at quarterback, but even elite receivers don’t always age gracefully. The warning signs were clearly there if a change of scenery fails to improve Adams’ stats.

Overall, Las Vegas made a major miscalculation when it acquired the decorated pass catcher from Green Bay. The general manager and head coach responsible for that trade are gone, and the current regime took a long-term view when it evaluated the roster this offseason.

Dealing Adams is a much better fit with the Raiders’ new organizational priorities.

When a trade once seemed like a strong possibility, the Jets were one of his more obvious landing spots as he has an existing relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The fit isn’t perfect in New York, however, given how crowded the team’s receiving corps is now becoming.

The Jets continue to wait for Garrett Wilson to make his full breakthrough, but one would assume the 24-year-old is still positioned as a key piece for the future. Mike Williams and Allen Lazard are also on the roster.

Someone from that group will inevitably be marginalized in the passing game if Adams comes on board, and that could create a delicate situation for the coaching staff.