Davante Adams reveals how he took jersey number 17 from a Jets rookie who demanded $1M

When three-time All-Pro Davante Adams signed with the New York Jets in October 2024, he fully expected to wear No. 17 — the number he’d donned his entire pro career. Turns out, getting that jersey was a little harder than he thought.

During a recent episode of “Bussin’ with the Boys,” Adams explained how he had to pull rank on a rookie wide receiver who wasn’t willing to give up that No. 17 without a fight.

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And by fight, I mean a very large sum of money.

Davante Adams No. 17 of the New York Jets looks on from the sideline before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on Dec. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

“So I showed up when I first got to the Jets Day 1. I came in with my backpack. It was an off day, Tuesday,” Adams explained. “A couple of guys were in there, I’m like looking for him. I got $17,000 cash in my backpack. And I’m thinking, like, this ain’t nothing crazy. But like, certainly to give up your number as a rookie, like, you ain’t did s— yet. It was Week 6 and I think he played four plays at that point.”

Adams found the rookie and made him an offer.

“I’m like, ‘You have no attachment to this right now. I’ll pay for your whole family to get new jerseys, whatever, because they go out and spend their money on it, However many jerseys you need me to buy I’ll do that and how about $17,000 for the number 17,’” Adams told him.

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But that wasn’t enough for the rookie.

“He said, ‘It’s great to have you big bro. I can’t wait to learn from you, but I’m gonna need a million,’” Adams recalled.

Shoo. Pretty ballsy of the kid, you have to give him that.

New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) are shown as they get ready to step off the field at MetLife Stadium, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford. (IMAGN)

Unfortunately, though, the strategy didn’t work out for the rook. Because Adams pulled his offer and took the issue to Jets owner Woody Johnson.

“So I went straight to Woody and said, ‘Give me 17, bro,’” the six-time Pro Bowler recalled. “And he just took it off of him.”

Davante Adams #17 of the New York Jets talks with Malachi Corley #14 on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL game against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 31, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Adams was gracious enough not to name the receiver on the podcast, but a quick search reveals it was Malachi Corley who wore the number for the Jets until Adams was traded to New York from the Raiders.

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Corley was cut by the Jets ahead of the 2025 season before signing with the Cleveland Browns. He’s still on the Browns’ roster.

And he doesn’t wear No. 17 there, either.