The New York Jets reportedly targeted blockbuster trades for a pair of elite wide receivers before the NFL trade deadline but were quickly shut down by those player’s teams.

The Jets head into their Week 9 matchup on Monday Night Football on a hot streak. After beginning the season 1-3 in the fallout of Aaron Rodgers’ likely season-ending injury, the team’s defense has helped lead a revival back into playoff contention.

Related: New York Jets add 2-time Pro Bowler after NFL trade deadline

New York has reeled off three straight victories and is back in the thick of the postseason race as they enter a big matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers this week. Considering the recent turnaround, and hopes that Rodgers can make a miraculous return later in the season, there was speculation the team could swing a big trade on Tuesday to bolster that playoff chances.


However, 4 PM ET came and went without the team making a notable deal. But that doesn’t mean General Manager Joe Douglas didn’t try, and a new report claims that he actually swung for the fences by targeting a pair of elite players to improve the offense for the second half of the season.

New York Jets checked in about trades for Mike Evans and Davante Adams

new york jets
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday night, New York Post Jets insider Brian Costello reported that the organization reached out to the Las Vegas Raiders about Davante Adams’ availability, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to see if Mike Evans could be up for grabs. However, both teams “were not willing to trade them.”

“There need to be buyers, there need to be sellers,” Douglas said in a press conference following the NFL trade deadline. “We made a lot of inquiries and had a lot of discussions about a lot of different positions but ultimately didn’t get any other deals done. That’s where we are.”

Related: Aaron Rodgers New York Jets return could be weeks away, based on shocking new injury report

Costello also reported that the Jets looked around for help on the offensive line but those pursuits also failed.

Recent reports claimed the Raiders had turned away many inquiries about disgruntled Pro Bowler Davante Adams over the last few weeks. As for Evans, there were rumblings in the offseason that he might be traded since he is in the final year of his contract, however, with the team still in the race for the division title, trading him would have severely hampered those chances.

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After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos