Could Jets WR Wilson benefit from trading for Adams?

LONDON – A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:

1. Adams, the role model? From afar, former NFL receiver Randall Cobb knows exactly what Garrett Wilson is going through — those receiver-quarterback growing pains with Aaron Rodgers. Cobb experienced it a few years ago with Rodgers and Davante Adams when the three were teammates on the Green Bay Packers.

Cobb, Wilson's teammate last season, believes the young receiver would benefit if the Jets acquired Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders.

Reports surfaced on Wednesday that Adams has the Jets and New Orleans Saints high on his wish list, and the Jets are believed to be interested.

“I think that would be a great example for Garrett to see and understand,” Cobb said in a telephone interview. “I know (Adams) has been through a lot of the same things that Garrett is feeling right now. Luckily for Tae, he didn't have to be the guy right when he came into the league. He was able to mature and learn and grow and become who he is now.”

Wilson was the type to post 1,000-yard seasons in his first two seasons, but his chemistry with Rodgers is best described as a work in progress. That was evident in the fourth quarter last week when Wilson ran a deep gap instead of breaking off his route, which Rodgers expected. The result was an ugly incompletion and a confused Rodgers, judging by his body language.

Cobb called Wilson, who has 191 yards on 20 catches and a touchdown this season, an “incredible talent.”

“(Wilson) is one of the best,” Cobb said. “Aaron is a different person to play with; there is only one expectation. Garrett is still young in this league and there is still so much for him to learn when it comes to football IQ.”

“Think about a guy like Davante and where he is now. He also had growing pains. It's not that Garrett won't make it. “Hopefully that happens sooner rather than later for the sake of the Jets, but it takes time.” It takes time for this connection to occur.

Rodgers and Adams enjoyed a magical bond from 2014 to 2021, amassing 7,529 yards and 68 touchdowns. Rodgers only has three touchdown passes to his current wide receivers. That's the fewest in his team's first four games since he became a starter in 2008 (not counting last year, when he suffered a season-ending injury four games into the season).

The Jets see a lot of man-to-man coverage and they don't capitalize on explosive plays. Their yards per attempt against man is 6.3, which ranks 18th. Adams is great against people, and acquiring Adams could help with that.

Wilson, who said it would be “cool” to take over for Adams, believes better days are coming in terms of his production.

“We’ll find out,” Wilson said. “We’re going to get to work and make sure we finish better than we started. That’s what matters.”

2. Lots of bargaining chips: General manager Joe Douglas made a nifty move on draft day that could help the Jets in their pursuit of Adams. Douglas traded a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for a 2025 third-round pick. It gives them two picks in the third round as well as their own picks in the first and second rounds.

You have the ammo and the space to enter the Adams Sweepstakes. Now it’s all about trade compensation and cash. Presumably, the Jets could try to get the Raiders to take on some of Adams' remaining salary ($13.5 million).

3. Sam's Club: On Sunday, the Jets will face the quarterback they once built their hopes and dreams on – 2018 No. 3 pick Sam Darnold, whom they traded away in 2021. Darnold revived his career in his fourth team with the Minnesota Vikings (4-0).

Looking back, they realized they had chosen the talented but inconsistent Darnold or wanted to start over with a rookie. Everyone knows how it turned out — they chose Zach Wilson, whom they drafted No. 2 overall — but it wasn't an easy decision. There was some sentiment within the organization to keep Darnold and trade the election and use the bounty to meet multiple needs. Douglas even admitted that he considered keeping Darnold and signing a quarterback.

Ultimately, the Jets wanted to take advantage of a rookie quarterback contract. They also fell in love with Wilson, which turned out to be an unfortunate decision. It certainly won't be a good prospect for Douglas, Saleh & Co. if Darnold returns to haunt them in London on Sunday.

“He’s acting crazy right now,” defensive tackle Quinnen Williams said of his former teammate.

Darnold landed in a quarterback-friendly environment where he (ironically) learns from two former Jets quarterbacks – coach Kevin O'Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. Jets cornerback DJ Reed raved about O'Connell, calling him the best playcaller in the league.

3a. Addendum: By the way, the Jets did something good with one of the picks acquired in the Darnold trade — a 2022 second-rounder that they turned into running back Breece Hall.

4. Cash: It seemed like an insignificant trade at the time, but it became an important footnote in Jets history.

In 2022, Douglas traded linebacker Blake Cashman to the Houston Texans for a 2023 sixth-round pick. The fact that Douglas found a taker for an often-injured substitute seemed like a small miracle.

Fast forward to April 2023. Douglas sent this pick to the Packers as part of the package that brought Rodgers to New York.

Let's fast forward again. On Sunday, Cashman will try to face Rodgers. You see, he's the Vikings' leading tackler. After a successful run in Houston, he signed with his hometown Vikings.

5. Ready…ready…right? All eyes (and ears) will be on Rodgers' cadence and whether the offense can stay on the outside. Last week, the Jets issued five false start penalties, almost unheard of for a home team. They had it under control for three games and then returned to their 2023 goals — 52 pre-snap penalties, second-most in the league, according to NFLpenalties.com.

It reflects poorly on the team's ability to concentrate, which many believe is an indictment of the coaching. Saleh said the coaches met “at length” to discuss the issue and they came up with a plan to “clear the players' minds” so they could concentrate better. That's one way to put it; Another option is to eliminate hesitation by giving them confidence in what they are doing.

6. He did what? The most telling aspect of the false starts was that tackle Tyron Smith was one of the culprits – a rarity. One of the least penalized linemen in recent years, he recorded just three false starts in the previous five seasons – all with the Dallas Cowboys. Welcome to the Jets.

7. Not a push-up fan: Some coaches resort to unconventional methods to address a penalty problem. More than a decade ago, former coach Rex Ryan turned it into an organizational crusade. When a player took a penalty in training, everyone – players, coaches, ball boys, office staff – immediately did push-ups. Even Jets owner Woody Johnson did push-ups.

Saleh doesn't believe in this method.

“They want to be treated like men,” Saleh said. “They already know they screwed up. You don't have to be ashamed. You have to know how to correct it, and I don’t think push-ups teach a man how to correct it.”

8. Did you know? The defense has allowed just 61 and 60 passing yards in the last two games, the first time in franchise history they have held two consecutive opponents under 75.

9. A trend no one is talking about: Traditionally a zone-based defense under Saleh and coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets now utilize the third-highest man-to-man rate (54%), according to Next Gen Stats. They flash more than they have in the past, in part to make up for their deficiencies on defense (Jermaine Johnson's season-ending Achilles injury and Haason Reddick's loss).

10. The Last Word: “There is no cadence problem. There was never a cadence problem. It was created (by the media).” — Saleh