This non-Aaron Rodgers QB is key to NY Jets keeping Davante Adams in 2025

When the NY Jets traded a conditional third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Davante Adams earlier this year, the hope and expectation was that he would play longer than one season with the organization.

While the Jets and Adams intentionally gave themselves an out after 2024, the team hoped to keep him around beyond the current season. Of course, the Jets also hoped his presence would allow them to turn their fortunes around and make a run at the postseason.

That didn't happen. Instead, the Jets were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the 14th consecutive year following their Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Adams and the Jets will play out the final four games of the season, but beyond that, his future is uncertain, especially given the contentious Aaron Rodgers situation. But there might be one way for the Jets to move on from Rodgers and still keep Adams in 2025.

The solution is Derek Carr.

Derek Carr would allow the NY Jets to keep Davante Adams in 2025

Carr is still under contract for two more years with the New Orleans Saints, but there has been chatter that the franchise could move on this offseason. Doing so would incur a stunning $50 million cap hit unless the team opted to push money to the future by designating him as a post-June 1st cut.

The latter would see the Saints take on a little over $21 million in dead cap in 2025 with the remaining dead money spread out between 2026 and 2028. There's a real chance the Saints decide to go that route.

If that happens, Carr would immediately become one of the top quarterbacks available on the market this offseason. He could be an ideal bridge quarterback for the Jets, especially if they draft a QB like Jalen Milroe or Drew Allar to develop behind him.

Carr has obvious ties to Adams, given their time together at Fresno State and with the Raiders. It was Carr who pushed for Adams to join the Raiders prior to the 2022 season. Carr's departure is what contributed to Adams leaving Las Vegas for Florham Park.

It should be noted that Adams essentially controls his future in New York. Adams is set to carry a cap hit of $35.64 million into 2025 and 2026. There's approximately a zero percent chance the Jets let him play on that number.

The Jets will have to approach Adams about a contract restructure if they want him to remain on the team in 2025, which they likely will. Adams could simply refuse if he didn't want to play in New York any longer, giving the team no other choice but to release him.

The Jets could change Adams' mind if they were to run it back with Rodgers for another year. After all, the Jets traded for Adams largely to reunite him with his longtime Green Bay quarterback. Perhaps that would be enough to sway his opinion.

But while there's still a chance Rodgers will be on the Jets' roster in 2025, the two sides appear headed for an inevitable split. That leaves the Jets with one other option: Carr.

Signing Carr to a short-term bridge quarterback contract would likely allow the Jets to keep Adams while not preventing them from drafting a quarterback in the first round, which seems very plausible at this stage.

The Jets notably had serious interest in signing Carr when he last hit free agency in 2023. If he shakes free again, it's possible the organization will come calling again.

Jets fans should keep a close eye on Carr's availability this offseason. There's a non-zero chance Adams is reunited with a new ex-teammate in 2025.

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