Davante Adams recently aired out his frustrations with the Las Vegas Raiders’ current philosophy, leading to some trade rumors. The 2022 All Pro was quoted saying that he does not see “eye-to-eye” with the Raiders front office.
The dissatisfaction comes after the Raiders moved off Derek Carr, Adams’ former college teammate. The team instead opted for Jimmy Garoppolo to be the main signal-caller. Las Vegas also traded away Darren Waller for subpar value. Waller was a big part of the offense and was very productive in Las Vegas’ offense.
.@Realrclark25 believes Davante Adams isn't sold on his new QB 👀
"In acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo, you're not getting an upgrade at the position from a talent standpoint." pic.twitter.com/4LLhRdE5Mz
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 17, 2023
Despite airing these frustrations, Adams reiterated his belief that general manager Dave Ziegler is “the man”. He may also be pleased by what he sees from second-round rookie, Michael Mayer, who projects into Mike McDaniels’ offense very well.
Adams was traded to the Raiders from the Green Bay Packers during the 2022 off-season. The 30-year-old receiver was named an All Pro in 2022, quashing the narrative that he was merely a benefactor of Aaron Rodgers’ MVP performances in Green Bay.
However, while Adams has cemented his status as a generational receiver, one thing remains on his bucket list: a Super Bowl ring. At 30, Adams remains one of the top receivers but could see a drop-off in play over the next few seasons. As such, trying to chase a ring on a team with more weapons and more established quarterback play could be beneficial.
5 Davante Adams Trade Destinations
New York Jets
After acquiring Rodgers from the Packers, the New York Jets could make a push to trade for Adams too. Adams was Rodgers’ favourite target in their most recent years together. He was a key reason for Rodgers’ MVP accolades. By reuniting the pair, the Jets would be able to recreate some of that magic, paired with an ascending defensive unit.
This off-season, the Jets have appeased Rodgers by signing receivers that Rodgers approves of. That has included the likes of Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard. The team also already had Garrett Wilson, last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Adding Adams gives the Jets significantly more firepower and continues their agenda of making Rodgers feel as comfortable as possible.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are another interesting destination for Adams to be traded to. Kansas City currently have Travis Kelce as their primary target for Patrick Mahomes. That is an all-time partnership. However, if they want to preserve Kelce, they will need to find other avenues to channel their offense.
The Chiefs currently have a starting trio of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore. They also drafted Rashee Rice in the 2023 NFL Draft. While those players all have top traits, none of them are as proven as Adams. Adding Adams to Andy Reid’s explosive Chiefs offense would add another layer.
Of course, however, the Chiefs are also in the market for DeAndre Hopkins. While Hopkins’ trade talks have seemingly cooled, there remains possibility that the All-Pro receiver is moved near this year’s trade deadline. The Chiefs were once frontrunners for Hopkins’ services, their interest could re-emerge after preseason.
There also remains the issue that Kansas City are in the same division as the Raiders. This means that, if Davante Adams was traded to the Chiefs, Las Vegas would have to face him twice a year. It thus seems unlikely that Ziegler would be happy to move their top receiver to a divisional rival.
Buffalo Bills
Like the Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills have an explosive offense. While Buffalo already have Stefon Diggs, it is clear that they need to diversify their offense with more capable receivers. The Bills selected Dalton Kincaid in the latest draft, gifting Josh Allen a top tight end. However, one final receiver could complete Buffalo’s offensive puzzle. A tandem of Diggs and Adams would instil fear in any defensive secondary.
New York Giants
This year, the New York Giants are a hard to team to gauge. They shocked the NFL with a stellar performance in last year’s playoffs to knock out the Minnesota Vikings. In that game, Daniel Jones showed his worth, leading to his big-money extension. But can Jones play at an elite level consistently? His recent regular seasons have given cause for doubt.
Many believe that head coach Brian Daboll far exceeded expectations last year. He did an excellent job of lifting a roster that was not as talented as other playoff teams. For this reason, many commentators think that the Giants will regress in 2023. Can Daboll really be expected to defy the odds again?
If the Giants have full faith in Jones, and feel ready to compete, then a move for Adams would make a lot of sense. The team traded for Waller already. In Daboll’s Chiefs-inspired offense, Waller will likely play a big part (just like Kelce). Grabbing Adams not only reunites Adams and Waller from the Raiders, but also gives the Giants some necessary quality at wideout. The team’s current top receiver is projected to be Parris Campbell.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars currently have a receiving group of Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones. While Kirk and Jones have flashed their potential, only Ridley has shown elite qualities. Given that Ridley is one year removed from football, it is unclear how reliable he will be as he re-enters the league. As such, the Jaguars could benefit from the services of Adams.
Adams is a much more proven receiver than the aforementioned names. If the Jaguars acquire Adams, Trevor Lawrence would see a huge jump in production. This has been a proven trend among young quarterbacks receiving elite boundary weapons (see Allen and Diggs as well as Kyler Murray and Hopkins). Lawrence is already trending upward but getting Adams would catalyse his development exponentially.
Other Davante Adams Trade Destinations
When a player like Adams becomes available, they will be in high demand. Aside from the five listed teams, the New Orleans Saints could be another team to watch. The Saints’ acquisition of Carr could be enough to attract Adams to New Orleans too.
Do not be surprised if the Baltimore Ravens are also interested. They have been very aggressive in rejuvenating their receiver room this off-season. Not only did they sign Odell Beckham Jr., they also drafted rookie Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Beckham’s one-year deal could incentivize general manager Eric DeCosta to splash on a player that presents a more long-term solution.
There's no debate, Davante Adams is the best route runner in the NFL pic.twitter.com/wfUlgAzShV
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) May 16, 2023
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
