In keeping with recent reports suggesting that the trade market for Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams could be cooling, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms that Adams may indeed remain with Las Vegas for the rest of the season. That is primarily because the club continues to push for a second-round pick plus additional compensation in an Adams trade, and it also wants the acquiring team to cover the entirety of Adams’ remaining 2024 base salary.
In addition to the Raiders’ demands – to say nothing of how the Jets’ firing of HC Robert Saleh and the multi-week injury to Saints QB Derek Carr might impact trade talks – a more unexpected factor could play a role in keeping Adams in Nevada. Per Schefter, the Raiders’ recent decision to bench quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of second-year passer Aidan O’Connell could make Adams reconsider his desire to be traded.
Last year, Adams was frustrated when Las Vegas deployed Jimmy Garoppolo under center, and those frustrations dissipated when O’Connell emerged as the QB1 (a move that Adams endorsed and to which he tied his future with the Raiders). Sources tell Schefter that Adams believes O’Connell is one of the best signal-callers he has played with, and he is intrigued by the prospect of catching passes from the Purdue product once again.
That said, both Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) report that the Jets, Saints, Steelers, and Bills continue to discuss a potential deal with the Raiders. Schefter adds that Pittsburgh brass was expected to continue those discussions in person yesterday, as the Steelers are in Las Vegas for their Week 6 game against the Raiders.
Additionally, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda hears that an Adams trade could happen as early as next week, and that the Jets are the most aggressive suitor at the moment (last week, New Orleans was reportedly making the hardest push to land the soon-to-be 32-year-old). According to Pauline, the Saleh firing and the subsequent demotion of OC Nathaniel Hackett has not made Adams any less open to playing for Gang Green, but Pauline is in agreement with Schefter that O’Connell’s presence could scuttle trade talks.
Mark Davis is fond of Adams, who is said to have the owner’s ear. Pauline says it is certainly possible that, with O’Connell back in the starting lineup, Adams could ask Davis to break off discussions with rival clubs.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, however, believes the reports indicating that the Raiders could keep Adams are being driven by the team itself in order to create leverage that it does not presently have. After all, regardless of whether Minshew or O’Donnell is at the helm, it is difficult to envision Las Vegas making a deep playoff run, and as a non-contender with a talented but aging player who is due a non-guaranteed $35.6MM base salary in 2025, the only logical move for the Raiders is to deal the decorated wideout.
Likewise, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears from multiple league sources that Las Vegas is merely bluffing. One source said, “feels a bit like Vegas is trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube to salvage Davante’s market. I think everyone knows their only play is to deal him.”
In Florio’s estimation, the Jets are the only club that truly wants Adams at the moment, and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network hears that this could be a “Jets or bust” situation (video link). Garafolo adds that if New York should win its game against the Bills tomorrow night – which would move Gang Green into first place in the AFC East – the club may be more inclined to make a bold strike for their long-desired target (even though Jones, contrary to Pauline, says the Saleh firing has indeed made Adams a little more wary of going to the Jets).
Adams will be sidelined for today’s matchup with the Steelers due to a hamstring ailment. It will mark his third straight absence.