What to make of the Bills and Jets trading for new top recievers

By Levi Coovert October 15, 2024 15:10

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Just a day after squaring off in a thrilling 23-20 Monday Night Football game, both the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets have made trades for a big-name weapon in a hope to energize their respective offensive attacks.

A reunion in New York

The Jets got the trading frenzy started when it was announced that they would be sending a third round pick to the Raiders in exchange for Davante Adams. Adams previously played with QB Aaron Rodgers for eight years in Green Bay, from 2014-2021.

The move might seem unnecessary, as the Jets already have star wideout Garrett Wilson and another option in Allen Lazard, who Rodgers has connected with for five touchdowns in their first six games.

However, the Jets are looking for a spark, and at 2-4, things are starting to look bleak. They remain a game out of playoff contention, and clearly believe injecting a former All-pro receiver who once thrived with Rodgers might be just what they need.

Despair in the air?

It's worth wondering if there is some desperation in New York when considering the Adams trade combined with the firing of head coach Robert Saleh a week ago. Could this be because the Jets believe QB Aaron Rodgers plans to retire at the end of the season? If so, that would mean this is their only chance to make a playoff run with the future Hall-of-Famer behind center.

Or perhaps the Jets smell blood in the water. Despite starting 2-4, the AFC remains week enough that if the Jets go on a run, they can easily be among the top of the conference. The Colts (3-3) currently occupy a playoff spot, and nobody seems to be running away with the last wild card seed. The Broncos are 3-3, Dolphins 2-3, while the Raiders and Bengals are tied with New York at 2-4.

For whatever the reason, the Jets will hope Adams can be ready to play on Sunday night when New York takes on the Steelers in their third prime time game of the season. While Pittsburgh is 4-2, they have looked vulnerable at times, with Justin Fields clinging to his starting job and Russell Wilson breathing down his neck.

Buffalo's new weapon

The Bills, just a few hours after the Adams news broke, acquired a new star receiver of their own, in Amari Cooper. With the Browns (1-5) basically out of contention, Cooper now heads to Buffalo where he will join a receiving corps that currently includes Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman. Cooper is immediately the biggest name in that group, and should be able to replace the production the Bills lost from Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, who both left Buffalo in the off season.

Did the Bills grab Cooper because they were trying to get Adams and failed? Did the Jets' acquisition of Adams scare the Bills enough to go out and get their own new weapon? Or did the Bills simply feel that they needed a new receiver, and the timing with the Jets' trade was simply a coincidence?

We may never know the answers to those questions. What we do know is that these moves shake up the AFC East, and make the division better. Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen will now both have an opportunity to play with a new WR1, which could help them both improve as the season goes on.