RAIDERS STAR WR DAVANTE ADAMS TELLS TEAM HE PREFERS TO BE TRADED
Las Vegas Raiders superstar wide receiver Davante Adams has informed the team that he would prefer to be traded, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo on Tuesday.
The development comes just hours after Las Vegas Review Journal beat writer Vincent Bonsignore reported that the Raiders were open to the idea of trading the 31-year-old receiver. The team is thought to be currently reaching out to clubs across the league gauging interest in the veteran wide out.
Reports from Las Vegas suggest that Adams relationship with Head Coach Antonio Pierce may have deteriorated. This comes just over a week after the Raiders lost 36-22 at home to an 0-2 Carolina team and Pierce said after the game that some of his players made “business decisions” during the game. Many interpreted that as him thinking some players decided to quit as the game went on to avoid risk of injury.
“No, they didn’t [show up tonight],” said Pierce. “I think as the game went on, I don’t think it was the team, I think there were definitely some individuals that made business decisions. And we’ll make business decisions going forward as well.”
While it may be that Adams’ surprising performance of just 4 catches across 9 targets during the game for 40 yards against the Panthers wasn’t exactly what Pierce was referring to, it definitely appears that some of those “business decisions” have come home to roost.
Adams went on to miss this past Sunday’s 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns with what was reported as a hamstring injury sustained during practice last week and was on the sidelines for the game. Sunday’s game was the first regular season contest he missed since 2021, with the Green Bay Packers.
Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce then reportedly liked an Instagram post from Sports Illustrated on Monday suggesting that the former Fresno State Bulldog may have played his last down with Vegas and was a strong trade candidate.
Adams was asked about having had any conversations with Pierce about the liked post on the Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams on Tuesday to which he replied in the negative.
“I haven’t heard from him,” said Adams. “I haven’t talked to him. Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t really know exactly what that was about. Obviously, social media is a beast. There’s a lot of people out there that saw it, wondering what’s going on and people reaching out. Yeah, I haven’t spoken to him.”
“Honestly, it’s hard to comment on, as you would imagine. It’s one of those situations where I just keep my head down and keep doing my thing and let the chips fall where they may.”
Kay Adams closed the segment by telling Adams: “I hope you hear from your coach today.”
“Yeah, I do too,” Adams replied.
Amongst the many teams in the league that would be interested in Adams are three of the four teams in the AFC East in the New York Jets, the Buffalo Bills, and the New England Patriots.
While the Bills’ trade is unlikely considering their cap situation, Adams could still end up in Western New York if the Raiders were willing to absorb most of the All-Pro receiver’s base salary. Adams has a $25.35 million cap hit this season and two years left on his contract, although the salary on both those seasons isn’t guaranteed. Buffalo would, however, pay a heavier premium in the form of draft capital to make the deal happen, similar but more than what the Seahawks did acquiring DE Leonard Williams in October last year.
Buffalo currently own two 2025 second-round picks including the Minnesota Vikings’ selection they acquired via Houston from their trade for wide receiver Steffon Diggs in early April.
Adams, who appeared on HBO’s The Shop in March with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, also spoke warmly about the situation in New England and the new era being ushered in with Jerod Mayo as head coach.
“I think that dependent on the location of a team makes that a big deal, like a black head coach on the Patriots is going to be much bigger, in my mind at least, than putting a black head coach on the Raiders as far as the way it’s perceived,” said the three-time All-Pro receiver. “And the same would go for Green Bay. I think that’s just kind of the nature of it.”
“Some of the teams, it’s not looked at like there’s any racism attached to it or anything like that, no negative connotations. It’s more of like the history that’s been there, and you haven’t really seen it happen that way before.”
New England has the cap room and draft capital to make the trade happen but would be a less attractive situation for Adams considering their estimated inability to contend for a championship in the near future.
As it stands, the Jets remain the favourites to land Adams due to his prolific history with starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers dating back to their time in Green Bay. New York would have to realistically include a player and multiple picks after 2025 if they don’t want to part with their Day 2 pick next year.
Other teams that might be interested in Adams include defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City and Super Bowl contenders Baltimore Ravens.
The Chiefs might be looking to bolster their receiving corps which has been decimated by injuries following Marquise “Hollywood” Brown’s regular-season ending surgery early last month and Rashee Rice’s recently sustained knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday. Kansas City’s main threat at receiver currently remains rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy, who scored his fourth touchdown of the season this past week. Other players on the team include Juju Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson.
The Ravens on the other hand have a juggernaut of an offence that’s being led by the dynamic ground attack of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson but lack a proven no.1 wide receiver. With the exception of Zay Flowers, who has started off slowly, the Ravens’ receiver room leaves much to be desired. Both Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor registered less than 400 receiving yards and only 5 touchdowns between them last season, hence the need for a proven pass catcher if the Ravens are to contend again this season.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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