Early in the Davante Adams market, the obvious trade suitor does look to be readying a pursuit. Linked to the wide receiver since acquiring Aaron Rodgers, the Jets are in on the disgruntled Raiders wide receiver.
They have reached out to the Raiders on Adams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who adds the Cowboys have done the same in what may be a drawn-out sweepstakes. Adams also would be interested in joining the Jets, as veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz indicates they are one of his preferred destinations.
Rodgers has been lobbying the Jets to make the move, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, who indicates teams beyond New York and Dallas are expected to be part of this derby. It is not known how interested other teams are just yet, but Pauline notes the Bills, Saints and Steelers join the Jets in being the most interested parties presently.
Seeking a package worth a second-round pick and change, the Raiders are prepared to wait. While Adams wants out now and has been frustrated about his situation dating back to the Raiders’ Jimmy Garoppolo signing, the team has more than a month until this year’s trade deadline, which was moved back one week — to November 5 — via an offseason vote. It appears unlikely Adams will suit up before that point.
As the Raiders seek a second-rounder-headlined package, Pauline floats that a first-round choice being put on the table would move the deal across the goal line. Though, Adams is a high-priced player who will turn 32 before season’s end. Still, he probably will be the top wide receiver available ahead of this year’s deadline.
Despite looming as an obvious trade candidate dating back to last season, Adams had repeatedly indicated he did not want to be moved. That has since changed, with the situation escalating. Antonio Pierce liking an Instagram post about a potential Adams trade has apparently catalyzed these proceedings. Adams officially requested a trade Monday, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. Pierce is set to address this situation later today, but Schultz adds Adams’ camp approached the Raiders about a potential trade last season but stopped short of an official request. Adams played out the season, but the Raiders have drifted further away from the championship radar, which Pauline notes is a lead factor in the WR wanting out.
Adams has appeared out of place in Las Vegas, with the team’s decision to jettison Derek Carr one season into the wide receiver’s tenure planting seeds for this relationship’s deterioration. After spending his entire Green Bay career with Rodgers, Adams has seen the Raiders cycle through a few QBs. The Garoppolo fit, as Netflix’s Receiver showed, proved the most problematic. But the Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew stopgaps — as a Pierce-driven effort to trade up for Jayden Daniels did not come close to fruition — leave the 11th-year wideout in limbo. Teams have undoubtedly observed this as well, and this trade request will ignite one of the most interesting trade races in recent memory.
As the Bills, Saints, Steelers and Cowboys loom as well, the obvious issue that would impede a fit with the Chiefs will make such a move a nonstarter. Kansas City is not expected be an option for Vegas re: Adams, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. While the Chiefs are suddenly in need of a difference-making receiver after losing Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, the Raiders being division rivals will not lead to any traction with Adams.
The Saints would appeal to Adams, Schefter adds. This would again reunite Adams with Carr, his longtime friend and former Fresno State teammate. New Orleans is 2-2, thanks to two impressive wins and two narrow losses, and a need for a wideout presence alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed has existed dating back to the offseason. New Orleans only holds $2.8MM in cap space, but GM Mickey Loomis has proven adept at working around such hindrances. Adams also counts Saints wide receivers coach Keith Williams, who has been the receiver’s personal coach in the offseason, as a mentor, Schefter adds.
The Bills are also near the bottom in cap space, at $3.7MM. The Raiders can also pick up some of Adams’ base salary (a prorated $16.9MM) to improve trade compensation. Buffalo has attempted to play four weeks without a No. 1-level wide receiver, though Khalil Shakir has been effective and second-rounder Keon Coleman has shown promise. The Bills were in on DeAndre Hopkins before trading Stefon Diggs in 2023, however, and should be expected to kick the tires on receivers before the deadline. The Steelers memorably missed out on Brandon Aiyuk, despite agreeing to trade parameters with the 49ers. Adams would fit on an offense that features only one eight-figure-per-year contract (Pat Freiermuth‘s recent extension). While the Steelers are not known for splashy WR acquisitions, the Aiyuk pursuit shows they were ready to change that reputation.
Dallas has been lacking in CeeDee Lamb support since trading Amari Cooper, with its long-running Odell Beckham Jr. pursuit in 2022 and subsequent Brandin Cooks trade highlighting interest in augmenting its WR situation. Cooks and Adams were 2014 draft classmates, though the latter has proven to be a higher-tier receiver. He would certainly help a team that, thanks to the Lamb and Dak Prescott extensions, carries $23.8MM in cap space. The Cowboys have not shown interest in acquiring high-profile vets at other positions this season, but they appear willing to consider making an exception for Adams.
Circling back to the Jets, their HC-GM combo being on a hot seat — along with the perception this is currently a Rodgers-centric operation — makes them an obvious suitor. It would surprise if the team did not make an aggressive move here, even after signing Mike Williams in March. Rodgers said this summer he was eager to play with his former No. 1 target again, and the QB has not formed strong chemistry with Garrett Wilson just yet. The Jets carry $16.8MM in cap space.
This quintet each making an offer would strengthen the Raiders’ position, and 2025 draft capital would help the franchise’s 2025 QB pursuit. Adams will become $970K cheaper for a team to acquire as the weeks pass — on a contract featuring two high nonguaranteed 2025 and ’26 salaries ($35.6MM, $36.6MM) — and this may well be the top trade sweepstakes to monitor over the next month.
Bland was designated to return when he was originally placed on injured reserve during final roster cuts, so the Cowboys still have seven return designations remaining for their injury-ravaged roster.
