D.J. Reed played against Davante Adams as a Seahawk and again last year as a Jet. He isn’t lobbying Jets GM Joe Douglas to trade for the disgruntled future Hall of Fame Raiders receiver.
But he doesn’t believe that Garrett Wilson would be angry were Adams to be reunited with Aaron Rodgers.
“I don’t think that’s the case knowing Garrett,” Reed told The Post. “I can’t speak for him, but I don’t think he would be mad that we got another good receiver. If anything, that would take double-teams off him ’cause he’s getting double-teamed every game.”
Wilson has gotten off to a slow start this season with 20 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown through four games and ignited a mini-firestorm on the heels of the cadence firestorm by telling ESPN Radio’s Bart Scott that his route tree hasn’t been the same this season.
“If you bring in another guy that’s a Guy,” Reed said, “yeah that’s gonna definitely help him for sure.”
Adams was The Guy for Rodgers for eight seasons in Green Bay.
“I’m sure Aaron would love to play with Davante, why wouldn’t he?” Reed said. “What they had at Green Bay, they were a top duo in the whole NFL. I think he would love to play with him again.”
Rodgers has repeatedly expressed a desire to be reunited with Adams.
“He’s still elite,” Reed said. “He’s a great football player. I would just say his release is really quick off the line of scrimmage, very smart football player, understands the wide receiver position. He’s one of those few guys I would say in the NFL that play receiver that are very technical which, in my opinion, at this level that’s what separates you.”
Adams, with rookie Aidan O’Connell at quarterback, had six catches for 86 yards in the Raiders’ 16-12 win over the Jets last November. Adams, with Rodgers at quarterback, had seven catches for 78 yards in a 17-0 Packers win over the Seahawks three Novembers ago.
Asked if he noticed any difference in Adams from 2021 to 2023, Reed said: “No. He’s still a Guy. He just hasn’t had a quarterback to deliver the ball to him.”
Raiders starter Gardner Minshew has a 70.7 completion percentage with three touchdowns and three interceptions this season. Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown in three games before missing last week’s win over the Browns with a hamstring injury.
“Davante is dealing with a hamstring,” Raiders HC Antonio Pierce said Wednesday. “He’s rehabbing and the rest of us are focused on Denver.”
Adams could conceivably be rehabbing that hamstring until the Raiders grant him his wish to be traded.
“Obviously he’s one of the top receivers in the league for a reason, just a great route runner, understands leverage and how to run routes and all that stuff,” Jets nickelback Michael Carter II told The Post. “He is who he is for a reason.”
Allen Lazard appreciated that Adams mentored him when they were Packers teammates.
“I would assume he would be able to give Garrett pointers and stuff,” Reed said. “And I think Garrett would be also be able to give him pointers ’cause he’s a phenomenal football player.”
Rodgers, undergoing treatment before practice, has compared Wilson favorably to Adams.
“I think Garrett is different as far as his movements,” Reed said. “But as far as their release package and how smart they are with their routes, I can see the similarities.”
Rodgers would probably have less of an inclination to glare at Robert Saleh on the sideline or debate Cadencegate with the annoying media if he got to throw again to Adams. “Aaron and I are fantastic. Love the guy,” Saleh said.
Adams will turn 32 in December. Adams three times with Rodgers enjoyed 100-plus receptions for 1,300-plus yards. In Vegas, he had 100 catches for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns with old pal Derek Carr at quarterback in 2022, and had 103 catches for 1,144 yards and eight TDs last season with Jimmy Garoppolo and O’Connell.
“People like to talk about guys’ age,” Reed said. “But Davante, he’s gonna play receiver longer than 31. He’s gonna keep playing at a high level.”
The question is whether it will be with Aaron Rodgers again or someone else.
