We knew that Garrett Wilson was set to change jersey numbers this offseason from No. 17 to his old college number at Ohio State, No. 5.
On Monday, January 8 New York Jets punter Thomas Morstead made it official by handing over his old jersey to Wilson.
“Honored to pass #5 to GW,” Morstead posted on X previously Twitter.
The post ended up going viral and drew a ton of reactions on social media. Perhaps none greater than Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams who “liked” the post.
Adams has sported the No. 17 jersey since at least his college days back at Fresno State. Jets fans started connecting the dots on social media that Adams liked that his No. 17 suddenly became available with Gang Green.
Honored to pass #5 to GW#Jets pic.twitter.com/U2oAJF7pzE
— Thomas Morstead (@thomasmorstead) January 9, 2024
Top Social Media Reactions to Adams-Jets-Wilson Potential Pairing
One social media user said, “So Davante Adams is basically already a Jet … Right??”
So Davante Adams is basically already a Jet … Right ??
— 𝙅𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼🛫 (@NYJets_Media) January 9, 2024
“The Jets offense with Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams, and Breece Hall is going to be a PROBLEM,” another fan said on X.
The Jets offense with Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams, and Breece Hall is going to be a PROBLEM.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 9, 2024
NYJ Matt said, “Wilson back to #5, Davante Adams to #17, Thomas Morstead to #0. This is how you build a championship organization.”
Wilson back to #5
Davante Adams to #17
Thomas Morstead to #0This is how you build a championship organization https://t.co/jKWL6qMTQu
— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) January 9, 2024
A funny Morstead story on the switching of jersey numbers.
Morstead has four children and I spoke to him earlier this offseason about him giving up the No. 5 to Wilson. He said the No. 5 jersey put pressure on his wife to crank out another baby. However, with Wilson taking No. 5, he openly considered jumping to No. 6. That would also put pressure on his wife for potential “twins” so the numbers match up.
.@thomasmorstead told me after he gives @GarrettWilson_V jersey No. 5 he started thinking about maybe getting jersey No. 6 with the #Jets for 2024.
He has four children, so the increased jersey number is putting pressure on his wife to crank out more kids to match his jersey 🤣… https://t.co/TDHU9lgbgm pic.twitter.com/KQTuGkVcZr
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) January 9, 2024
Jets Will Make an Aggressive Push for Adams: Insider
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Jets reached out to the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Gang Green gauged whether the Raiders would bite on a trade.
Nothing came of it.
However, Schefter said the Jets, “might not be willing to take no for an answer.” Acquiring Adams would reunite him with his former quarterback with the Green Bay Packers.
Although getting a deal done will be easier said than done. The Jets have limited draft assets and are one of several teams that would be interested in Adams’ services.
One way to potentially get Adams on a discount is for him to go to Las Vegas and tell the team that he intends to play for the Jets. That would put pressure on the organization to either follow through on his wishes or to potentially be a distraction from the team.
Also if and when Adams did that he’d give all the leverage to the Jets. Especially if those pleas became public knowledge.
Players, coaches, and front office members confirmed that a big point of emphasis this offseason will be adding more pieces for Rodgers. Adams would certainly check the bucket list as one of those kinds of additions.
Adams is a freak of nature and could likely succeed anywhere. However, the thing that could help smooth that transition if a trade was consummated is the pre-existing relationship between Adams and Rodgers.
