Bills, Jets Add Key Playmakers, but Is It Enough to Alter AFC?
The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills made a splash this week by acquiring former Pro Bowl wide receivers to boost their chances of making a deep postseason run.
New York gained Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2025 conditional third-round draft pick. Adams has amassed 890 receptions for 10,990 yards with 96 touchdowns in 153 career games. He is a three-time First-team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler, and led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2020 and 2022.
Buffalo acquired Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick in 2025 from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a third-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2026. Cooper is a five-time Pro Bowler and made the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2015.
The Bills traded their top pass-catcher Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans this offseason and they have not been able to replace his production. Bills coach Sean McDermott was measured in his response to acquiring Cooper.
"First and foremost we believe in the receivers that we already have in the room," McDermott said after the trade. "We'll see when Amari gets here and how we can get him up to speed and get him integrated into what we do and how we do things.
"It's never about one guy. We're thankful to have him, but it's never about just one guy. It's about the team, so we're anxious to get him on board here and get rolling."
The moves should improve the offense for both teams but it is still uncertain how they will impact the overall landscape of the NFL.
The Bills are in first place in the AFC East at 4–2. However, the offense is not rolling and quarterback Josh Allen is averaging 193.3 yards per game, compared to 253.3 last season.
Overall, the Bills are ranked 21st in the NFL averaging 309.7 yards per game, and are seventh with 27.5 points per game.
Over six games, Cooper has caught 24 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns. He averages 10.4 yards per catch—the lowest mark of his career. However, he had a career-high 1,250 yards receiving last season.
Cooper should be a good fit for Buffalo's offense. However, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC. The Bills and Chiefs meet in Buffalo on Nov. 17.
The Ravens are the second favorite and they already beat the Bills 35–10 in Week 4.
New York fell to 2–4 on the season with a 23–20 loss to Buffalo on Monday night so the Jets still have an uphill climb to get into the playoff race.
The Jets have already had a tumultuous season where they fired head coach Robert Salah on Oct. 8 after a 2–3 start. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named the interim head coach.
The Jets are hopeful the addition of Adams will be the catalyst for a playoff run. New York has not made the postseason since 2010.
Adams, 32, is reunited with Aaron Rodgers with the Jets. They played together for seven seasons in Green Bay forming one of the NFL's most explosive duos, combining for 615 completions, 7,529 yards, and 68 touchdowns over that span.
"I am super-excited," Ulbrich said about the addition of Adams. "He is not only an elite player as we know, but the relationship between him and Aaron just takes his value to a whole another space for us.
Rodgers, 40, is having a Hall-of-Fame-caliber career as a four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion.
However, his tenure in New York has been hampered by a major injury last season and mediocre performances this season. Over six games, Rodgers has thrown for 1,387 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Jets also have Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, and Allen Lazard on the depth chart at wide receiver. The Jets are ranked 16th in the NFL with 217.2 yards passing per game.
The addition of Adams gives them new hope and should energize the fan base. However, there are still questions about whether the Jets can become legitimate contenders as the AFC playoff picture becomes clearer over the next several weeks.
