Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is one of the most popular trade targets out there, and it’s no secret why. The former All-Pro originally joined the Raiders back in 2021 with the goal of winning a championship with then-quarterback Derek Carr. However, with Carr now on the Saints and the Raiders not exactly in the Super Bowl hunt, the 30-year-old receiver is likely looking for a change of scenery. Recently, Adams appeared on The Rich Eisen Show and publicly voiced his frustrations with his current organization.
Just moments ago, @richeisen wrapped up a frank 1-on-1 chat with the brilliant @tae15adams and asked him the main questions of the moment for the perennial Pro Bowler: is he happy with the @raiders? And could Monday Night possibly be his last game with them? pic.twitter.com/0EumyHQ4NZ
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) October 28, 2023
Davante Adams Isn’t Thrilled With Raiders, Likely Looking For A Trade
The Rich Eisen Interview
Late Friday night, Eisen posted the above clip from his show onto the internet. While the entire six-minute clip is well worth a listen, Adams’ most interesting comments came when discussing the current state of the Raiders organization. It is no secret that Davante Adams and Derek Carr are close friends, and Carr’s presence was a big reason Adams wanted the trade to the Raiders in the first place. However, with Carr in New Orleans and Jimmy Garoppolo under center, it sounds like Adams isn’t too fond of his current environment.
“I came here to play with Derek. I can’t say I would been here if he wasn’t here…it definitely hurt not having him around, but after so long in the league you get used to it.”
Now, it’s worth noting that Davante Adams never officially requested a trade during his time in the interview. However, you don’t need to be a body language expert to read between the lines here. Adams joined the Raiders because he wanted to team up with his longtime friend, and because Vegas made the playoffs in 2021. Now, Carr is gone and the Raiders are clearly not competing for a title. Quite frankly, why would Adams want to stay with the Raiders? Vegas is reportedly not willing to trade Adams, but perhaps that’s just a leverage play to try and increase a team’s offer. If the Raiders do budge, there should be plenty of teams interested in his services.
Davante Adams Trade Destinations
Baltimore Ravens
Far and away the most likely fit is the Baltimore Ravens. The defense is phenomenal and Lamar Jackson is playing at a borderline MVP level, but this team still needs more help at wide receiver. Rookie Zay Flowers has been as advertised, but Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham have not held up their end of the bargain. The Ravens need another weapon if they want to match the high-flying offense of the Kansas City Chiefs, and a Davante Adams trade would be a great way to catapult this team into the NFL’s elite.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are not on the same level as the Baltimore Ravens, but they desperately need to make the playoffs if Dennis Allen wants to keep his job. Because of this, they could consider a Davante Adams trade. Obviously, Adams would love to be reunited with Carr, and while the Saints aren’t lacking for wide receiver talent, perhaps they could use Adams to get more out of Chris Olave. The second-year wideout is talented, but he has quit on a few routes and is facing some legal troubles. Adams would give New Orleans one of the best wide receiver trios in football and might be exactly what Olave needs to reach his ceiling.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have an elite defense and special teams unit, and thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade, this is probably their best chance to actually win a Super Bowl. With a complete lack of draft picks, this well of talent is going to run dry sooner rather than later, so Cleveland might as well go all-in on 2023. Amari Cooper is still his reliable self, but Elijah Moore has been one of the least efficient receivers in the game. Even if Deshaun Watson remains a replacement-level quarterback, a team with this type of defense and two reliable receivers should be able to make noise in the AFC.
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones says that the Dallas Cowboys trade deadline isn’t going to be too exciting, so a Davante Adams trade probably won’t happen. However, the fit here is perfect. CeeDee Lamb is as great as ever, but Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup don’t bring anything special to the table. Just like the Browns, the Cowboys have a phenomenal defense and should be trying to make the most of the 2023 season. Davante Adams would give the Cowboys an insane 1-2 punch at wide receiver, and Dak Prescott is easily good enough to keep both players happy as the team competes for a deep playoff run.
Main Photo: Jamie Sabau – USA Today Sports
