A Million-Dollar Request for a Jersey Number
Star wide receiver Davante Adams recently shared a stunning story about his brief tenure with the New York Jets, revealing a negotiation over a jersey number that went from a friendly offer to a million-dollar demand. Speaking on the “Why is Draymond Green Talking About Football? With Jordan Schultz” podcast, Adams detailed the bizarre exchange he had with then-rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley upon joining the Jets in October 2024.
Adams, who has worn No. 17 for much of his career, found the number occupied by Corley, the Jets’ third-round draft pick from 2024. Wanting to secure his preferred number, Adams approached the rookie with a generous offer.
“I see you got No. 17, how about I give you 17 racks cash for 17?” Adams recalled offering, which amounts to $17,000. Corley’s response was far from what the veteran expected. “He said, ‘Hey man, it’s good to have you. Happy to have you on the squad. But I need a million.’ That’s what that boy told me,” Adams explained.
Initially thinking it was a joke, Adams soon realized Corley was serious. The rookie reportedly told him, “I’m dead-ass serious and 14 would look good on you I think.” Feeling disrespected by the audacious counteroffer, Adams decided to handle the situation through other channels. “Long story short, I got 17. And there was no exchange of money at all once that happened,” Adams stated. “The money stayed in my pocket because I felt disrespected at the time.”
A Short-Lived Partnership
Despite the rocky start to their relationship, Adams mentioned that he and Corley eventually got along well as teammates. However, their time together was brief. Adams’ stint with the Jets lasted just 11 games, during which he recorded 67 catches for 854 yards and seven touchdowns. The team released him on March 4, 2025.
Corley’s career with the Jets was also short-lived. He appeared in nine games during his rookie season, managing only three receptions. The Jets cut him in August 2025, and he subsequently signed with the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.
Adams’ New Chapter with the Rams
The incident marks another chapter in a whirlwind period of Davante Adams’ career. After a successful run with the Green Bay Packers, he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. The Raiders then traded him to the Jets on October 15, 2024, reuniting him with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Following his release from New York, Adams quickly found a new home, signing a lucrative two-year, $44 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams on March 9, 2025, as reported by digitaltrendstoday.com.
Now wearing No. 17 for the Rams, Adams has begun a new phase of his career. In his debut game for Los Angeles in Week 1 of the 2025 season, he caught four passes for 51 yards in a 14-9 victory over the Houston Texans. As he settles in with his new team, the story of the million-dollar jersey negotiation serves as a peculiar footnote to his brief and eventful time in New York.
