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Jets Restructure Davante Adams’ Deal

October 18th, 2024 at 12:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 18: Providing further details on the restructure, ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes nearly all of Adams’ 2024 salary ($10.45MM) was converted into a signing bonus to create the immediate cap savings. While void years are now present, no changes have been made to the 2025 and ’26 salaries at this point. Further work to the pact – including the infusion of new guarantees – will no doubt be coming this offseason if Adams is to meet his goal of remaining in New York for years to come.

OCTOBER 15: The Raiders found a team willing to pay Davante Adams‘ full remaining salary. Undoubtedly lowering the trade price, the Jets are absorbing the $10.9MM left on the All-Pro receiver’s base salary this year. As was the case with the Aaron Rodgers trade, the Jets are making a change to give themselves more breathing room.

A restructure will take place, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who indicates the revised agreement will reduce Adams’ 2024 base salary. That number stood at $16.89MM coming into the season, but with six games passing, it dropped below $11MM. While the new number is not yet known, the Jets are pushing money into the future to help defray some of the immediate cost.

Base-to-bonus restructures and the introduction of void years can help cut cap numbers, and Rapoport adds the Jets appear likely to adjust the talented wide receiver’s deal for 2025 and ’26 (no void years are on Adams’ deal prior to this restructure). Void years will now be included, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who reports the Jets have dropped Adams’ cap number to $3.21MM by adding two void years. Adams’ deal still runs through 2026, but the voids technically push it through 2028.

Adams is due nonguaranteed $35.6MM and $36.6MM cap figures, respectively, over the next two seasons. Those lofty numbers are part of the five-year, $140MM extension Adams signed upon being traded to the Raiders. That fit did not end up panning out, and the Jets had long loomed as an interested party — dating back to their April 2023 Rodgers trade.

While negotiations had pushed a deal near completion Monday, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes the salary component represented the final hurdle. The Raiders’ insistence an acquiring team pick up the full tab had loomed as a key component in this trade, and while the AFC West team probably would have received more in terms of trade compensation by agreeing to pay part of Adams’ remaining 2024 salary, the organization stood pat and sent the full number to the Jets’ payroll. That will now be stretched beyond 2024.

This transaction will make it more difficult for the Jets to move on from Adams after this year. Previously, the Jets would have taken on no dead money from a 2025 separation. Though, they would have faced a near-impossible task in attempting to trade a contract featuring a $35.6MM 2025 base salary.

Although Rodgers has described the team as all in after this trade, he has indicated an openness to playing beyond 2024. Rodgers’ uncertain future in Green Bay affected Adams’ decision to pass on a 2022 Packers extension offer, leading to the tag-and-trade maneuver, and the 11th-year wideout also was linked to hesitancy regarding the Jets due to Rodgers’ cloudy post-2024 plans in New York. Though, it appears the parties are onboard. Adams being tied to the Jets through 2026 will assuredly factor into Rodgers’ retirement considerations this coming offseason.

As part of a summer 2023 restructure, a $35MM roster bonus would come Rodgers’ way if he decides to play again next season. The 2025 season would be Rodgers’ 21st should he decide to stick around. Of course, the Jets firing Robert Saleh and having Joe Douglas on a hot seat — though, it may not be as hot as we previously thought — complicates even Rodgers’ 2025 status. Of course, QB talent is quite hard to procure, so a new Jets regime — if that is the way ownership proceeds after this already-tumultuous season — would need to factor that into the decision as well.

For the first time since 2020, Rodgers and Adams are each under contract for multiple seasons together. The Jets will hope this deal can trigger a midseason turnaround, as they have now checked off the top box on the QB’s wish list.

Maxx Crosby Addresses Raiders Trade Speculation

October 17th, 2024 at 9:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of the Davante Adams trade, questions have understandably been raised about the future of Maxx Crosby. The Raiders’ best player is not on the market, but his latest remarks on the possibility of a swap are far less conclusive than those of owner Mark Davis.

“I’m not here to rebuild, I’m here to win,” the three-time Pro Bowler said when speaking about his future (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “So, you know, I don’t know. Whatever that means, but yeah I’m here to win now. And wherever I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be here to win. So that’s all that matters to me.”

The decision to move on from Adams is a rather clear indication of Vegas’ intent regarding a run to the playoffs or beyond in 2024. With Gardner Minshew being replaced atop the quarterback depth chart by Aidan O’Connell, uncertainty looms over that position for the balance of the season as well as 2025. The Raiders represent a logical suitor for an aggressive quarterback pursuit this offseason, but even with an upgrade under center the team would have other hurdles to clear to attain contender status.

Crosby and the Raiders agreed to a restructure this offseason which upped his earnings for this season and next. His contract – which ranks ninth amongst edge rushers in terms of average annual value – runs through 2026. As a result, the matter of “wherever” he plays in the future will not be in doubt provided the Raiders turn aside the inevitable trade interest they will receive in the coming weeks. Of course, a number of teams would provide the 27-year-old with a better chance at contending than the 2-4 Raiders this season.

Crosby said in June he intends to remain in Vegas for the entirety of his career. His monster extension certainly sets up that possibility, and remaining healthy should allow him to continue proving high-end production. The Eastern Michigan product is on track for a fourth double-digit sack campaign in his six-year career. That will in all likelihood make him a centerpiece of the Raiders for years to come, but his comments note the potential for a change of scenery being possible.

Raiders Not Open To Maxx Crosby Trade

October 16th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Antonio Pierce‘s early stretch as the Raiders’ full-time HC is going worse than his interim period began. The team is 2-4 and has lost one-sided matchups to the Broncos and Steelers in successive weeks. Pierce has benched Gardner Minshew, and the Raiders signed off on their long-rumored Davante Adams trade Tuesday.

Teams will undoubtedly be checking in to see if the Raiders are interesting in selling other pieces. One player who will not be available: Maxx Crosby. Although Las Vegas is struggling, Crosby represents a foundational piece and would be on track for an extension — potentially as soon as 2025.

“It’s unfortunate today, but there’s so much outside chatter that is not true,” Davis said, via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed (subscription required). “It’s not coming from any sources. It’s not coming from anything. My basic thing is never to answer all that stuff because, otherwise, you get trapped in this black hole. It’s just not happening.”

Easily the best move from the second Jon Gruden era, the Raiders chose Crosby in the 2019 fourth round. The Eastern Michigan product has been a revelation, leading the NFL in tackles for loss in 2022 and ’23. The Raiders extended their standout edge rusher in 2022, and their decision to authorize what amounted to a $6MM raise this offseason effectively points to a longer-term commitment — as opposed to a player the team would consider dealing before the deadline. Crosby also received a $1.2MM bump for 2025; his four-year, $98.98MM contract runs through 2026.

Crosby came up in trade rumors before last year’s deadline as well; teams called to gauge the Silver and Black’s interest in moving their best player. Despite another slow start, Las Vegas is prepared to pass. Crosby, 27, is leading the NFL in TFLs this season as well. He has tallied nine, with 5.5 sacks to go along with that impressive total.

The Raiders have shuffled through Crosby complementary pieces, sending out Yannick Ngakoue after one season and cutting Chandler Jones following a series of strange developments surrounding the 2022 free agency addition. Would-be starter Malcolm Koonce is out for the season. A top-10 pick in 2023, Tyree Wilson has started one game this season and has yet to record a sack or a tackle for loss. Yet, Crosby continues to produce. With Adams now gone, there is no question who the Raiders’ top player is. And the team intends to maintain this beyond 2024. Crosby is interested in a full-career Raiders run, having said as much this summer.

Teams calling about Raiders could look to Josh McDaniels-era pickup Jakobi Meyers, who is signed through 2025, and contract-year DBs Nate Hobbs and Tre’von Moehrig. With McDaniels and Dave Ziegler still in charge last year, the team rebuffed the 49ers’ interest in Hobbs. But the established cornerback being unsigned beyond 2021 will naturally invite interest from coverage-needy clubs. A team in need of a backup or an emergency starter could also call on Minshew, who is signed through 2025 but has $3.16MM in guaranteed salary (as part of an $11.84MM base, since the team has pivoted to Aidan O’Connell already.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/16/24

October 16th, 2024 at 8:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: WR Malik Knowles

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

AFC West Notes: Raiders, Chiefs, Harbaugh

October 16th, 2024 at 1:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tom Brady‘s playing days are officially over, as his near-two-year odyssey toward becoming a Raiders part-owner is now complete. Brady’s broadcasting restrictions remain firmly in place, and a note coming out of Tuesday’s approval (h/t Bleacher Report) indicates Brady is prohibited from publicly criticizing officials and other clubs. That will make his Sunday FOX gig quite challenging, as the now-Raiders-affiliated broadcaster already cannot attend practices, appear at other teams’ facilities or take part in virtual or in-person pregame production meetings with personnel from the teams he will cover that week. Brady is also subject to the league’s anti-tampering policy, as all coaches and execs are. Nevertheless, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Brady’s Raiders stake purchase was approved 32-0 by owners Tuesday.

The subject of Brady’s participation regarding ownership has gone from “passive” to rumors he will play a big role as a part-owner. Mark Davis offered a hint the latter path will come to fruition, indicating (via NFL.com’s Judy Battista) Brady can help the Raiders select their quarterback of the future. Brady playing a central role in player acquisitions would certainly be of interest, as the Raiders just hired a new GM (Tom Telesco). It will be interesting to see how much input the Raiders want Brady to provide their football-ops department.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

  • As the Jets and Bills took their wide receiver swings Tuesday, the Chiefs have thus far stood pat. The two-time defending champions have gotten by — thanks largely to a reliable defense — with holdovers. Scheme familiarity remains a priority for the Chiefs, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who writes Kansas City has not been overly active in the receiver market thus far. The Chiefs have been linked to DeAndre Hopkins, whom they pursued in a 2023 trade and later in free agency that summer, and Jaguars slot cog Christian Kirk. Thus far, no traction has (knowingly) occurred. The Chiefs saw reacquisition Mecole Hardman catch the Super Bowl LVIII game-winning pass and just observed JuJu Smith-Schuster — re-signed shortly after his Patriots release — post 130 yards against the Saints. It could then be realistic the Chiefs re-sign the recently cut Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the cheap. Though, the Marquise Brown– and Rashee Rice-less team still has a deep threat — in first-rounder Xavier Worthy. A higher-profile add should still be considered in play before the November 5 deadline.
  • While the Chargers might be more likely to deviate from their Telesco-era pattern of not acquiring players at the deadline, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes Jim Harbaugh‘s high salary stands to contribute to how the organization proceeds. The Bolts are 27th in cash spent on players this year, as Harbaugh is on a five-year, $80MM deal. Coaching contracts, of course, do not factor into the salary cap, but those expenses are part of a team’s cash outlay. The Bolts, who obtained Taylor Heinicke and Elijah Molden via trade in August, also figure to pay more attention than usual to compensatory selections. After all, GM Joe Hortiz comes from the comp pick-obsessed Ravens. If a buyer’s trade does commence, it should be expected the return will be a low-cost performer.
  • Harbaugh needed to leave the sideline for a medical evaluation in Week 6, and while the new Bolts HC returned not long after, he confirmed the exit was due to an atrial flutter episode. As a result, the 60-year-old coach will wear a heart monitor for two weeks before a reevaluation commences, Popper tweets.
  • Similar to Harbaugh’s penalty for his Michigan violations, Raiders HC Antonio Pierce received a show-cause penalty stemming from recruiting infractions while he was at Arizona State. While Harbaugh’s show-cause penalty covers four years, Pierce’s spans eight. Due to recruiting violations during a COVID-19 dead period, a school that hires Pierce over the next eight years would need to suspend him for the first full season. Pierce’s lack of cooperation with the NCAA during its investigation since he resigned from the then-Pac-12 program (just before his Raiders arrival) contributed to the penalty.
  • In addition to Brady, owners approved Pistons owner Tom Gores‘ Chargers stake. Gores purchased a 27% stake in the Dean Spanos-owned franchise, which has been in the Spanos family since 1984.

Davante Adams Fallout: Jets, Raiders, Johnson, Davis, Rodgers

October 16th, 2024 at 11:53am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jets‘ 23-20 loss may have felt like the catalyst for their long-awaited acquisition of Davante Adams, but the trade was “essentially in place before kickoff” on Monday night, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

It would have been odd if Jets general manager Joe Douglas watched Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson combine for 14 catches, 221 yards, and two touchdowns against the Bills and immediately thought he needed to upgrade his wide receiver corps. Lazard’s five touchdowns are tied for first in the NFL, while Wilson ranks second with 41 receptions on a league-high 67 targets. But the Jets have been interested in Adams dating back to last season, where they attempted to acquire him at the deadline for a higher price than they ultimately paid this year. Rather than add depth to fill out the wideout room, they added to the top of the rotation, which will likely squeeze Lazard back into a tertiary role, though Aaron Rodgers will still look for his 6-foot-5 frame in the red zone.

The Adams trade has reverberations down the depth chart, with Mike Williams already on the trade block. The Jets have also rarely played third-round rookie Malachi Corley, but the presence of a veteran mentor like Adams may help the rookie shore up the receiving fundamentals required to see the field in the NFL.

Here is the rest of the fallout from the Adams trade:

  • With the deal all but confirmed, Adams flew from Las Vegas to New Jersey on Monday night, arriving at the Jets’ facility on Tuesday morning to get a physical examination and meet his new team, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
  • Provided his hamstring checks out, Adams should be able to quickly acclimate to a familiar Nathaniel Hackett offense (albeit one now featuring QBs coach Todd Downing calling plays) in New York in time to make his Jets debut in primetime on Sunday night against the Steelers, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. Pittsburgh was constantly mentioned in wide receiver trade talks this year – first with Brandon Aiyuk, then with Adams – but instead, the AFC North team will have to face the All-Pro in his new home.
  • Adams was one of the leaders in the Raiders‘ locker room coming into the season, but the drama surrounding his discontent and eventual trade request made his teammates “ready to move on,” according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur.
  • Raiders owner Mark Davis consulted with head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco but left the ultimate decision up to them, per The Athletic’s Diana Russini. Davis had been reluctant to deal Adams dating back to last trade deadline, when he turned down a bigger package from New York, but recognized it was time to move on less than a year later.
  • Jets owner Woody Johnson admitted the obvious while at the NFL owners’ meeting in Atlanta: Adams’ relationship with Rodgers was a key factor in bringing the wideout to New York. That connection will also help Adams slide into a major role in the Jets offense right away, joining Wilson to become one of the deadliest receiver duos in the league.
  • Johnson also said that “thinking is overrated” when asked for his perspective on the Jets’ championship hopes after a 2-4 start, according to Russini. The Jets will attempt to prove skeptics wrong by rebounding from a three-game losing streak, one that has the futures of some of their key principals up in the air. With Adams soon to debut for his third NFL team, it will be worth monitoring Rodgers’ thoughts on playing beyond 2024. Past Rodgers indecision has affected Adams’ choices in the past, and a recent report suggested the All-Pro wideout was leery of the QB’s future in New York. But the Jets now have Adams’ through-2026 contract, giving Rodgers more incentive to stick around.

Jets Acquire Davante Adams From Raiders

October 15th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Davante Adams is indeed set to be traded, and he is headed to his preferred destination. The Jets are finalizing a deal to acquire Adams from the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The swap will see Vegas receive a conditional 2025 third-round pick from New York, Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds. That pick can become a second-rounder based on Adams’ performance with his new team. Crucially. Pelissero also notes the Jets will take on the remainder of Adams’ 2024 salary. Depending on how he fares with his new team, then, the Raiders could wind up meeting their goal of landing a second-rounder in addition to not retaining any of his salary to facilitate a trade.

[RELATED: Jets Shopping WR Mike Williams]

Providing specifics on the conditional pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the selection will upgrade to a second-rounder if either of two circumstances are met. Adams must earn a first- or second-team All-Pro selection, or he must be on the Jets’ active roster for the AFC title game or Super Bowl. Those thresholds certainly make it likely the pick will wind up as a third-rounder, something SI’s Albert Breer recently speculated represented a cost the Raiders would ultimately be willing to accept.

Once it became known the Raiders were gauging the market on an Adams trade (something the 31-year-old preferred to staying put), the Jets emerged as the likeliest destination. After Adams openly remarked about the potential of reuniting with Aaron Rodgers – something the four-time MVP reciprocated – it came as no surprise to learn the Jets were his top target. Now, the two will in fact resume playing with each other after their successful eight-year run in Green Bay.

A number suitors were in the mix with respect to showing interest, but Vegas remained insistent on landing a second-round pick in any Adams deal. Many contenders saw that price as being too steep, and the Jets and Saints held an advantage in terms of providing Adams with a familiar quarterback (Rodgers or Derek Carr, in the case of New Orleans). Recently, those two teams appeared to be the strongest suitors with the Jets in particular acting aggressively to get a deal done. The team sits at 2-4 with a new head coach and offensive play-caller in place, but Adams could spark a midseason turnaround.

The Jets entered Tuesday with just over $17MM in cap space, a larger figure than many of the other teams interested in acquiring the three-time All-Pro. Since Vegas will not retain any salary, New York will be on the hook for $11.59MM this season (the prorated remainder of Adams’ 2024 salary). Two more years remain on his pact, but no guarantees are in place. Working out a new agreement will be key in this situation, and having Adams as more than a short-term rental would help justify the trade cost to add him. Adams has reportedly expressed concern about Rodgers’ post-2024 future with the Jets, however.

Nevertheless, an organization which just fired head coach Robert Saleh and demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is now making another aggressive move aimed at success this season. The 2024 Jets are the first team led by Rodgers to have a losing record through six weeks. A postseason berth remains the goal, though, and Adams could aid an offense which sits 22nd in scoring. Of course, this move also marks the latest the Jets have undertaken which involves bringing in familiar faces to Rodgers on the field and the sidelines while trying to maximize the remainder of his career.

Adams will now join Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard at the receiver spot with New York. Speculation has increased in the wake of today’s deal that Mike Williams – signed to a one-year deal in free agency – could now be on the move to avoid a logjam at the top of the depth chart and move some money out to compensate for Adams’ arrival. In any case, expectations will increase for better efficiency through the air moving forward.

For the 2-4 Raiders, this move brings an end to a situation between Adams and head coach Antonio Pierce which was marked by a recent increase in tension. As veteran insider Josina Anderson notes, Pierce feels this move is best for all involved. Vegas – a team which is now increasingly short on playmakers and turned to Aidan O’Connell at quarterback for Week 6 – will take on $13.67MM in dead money this year and $15.7MM in 2025 (h/t Spotrac).

With five 1,100-yard campaigns to his name (including both of his full Raiders seasons), Adams will be expected to provide a major boost to the Jets’ offense upon reuniting with Rodgers. If that proves to be the case, the team – which may soon offload edge rusher Haason Reddick and end his holdout in the process – could become a contender for at least an AFC postseason spot. Ending the Jets’ 13-year playoff drought would mark a key success for the team, and it would no doubt quell doubts about general manager Joe Douglas’ job security.

A hamstring injury has kept Adams out of action for the past three weeks, but multiple reports note he is currently at the Jets’ facility undergoing a physical. Once that takes place, this trade can be made official and bring a notable but expected end to the Adams situation. How it affects other receiver deals ahead of the deadline will be interesting to monitor.

NFL Approves Tom Brady’s Raiders Ownership Stake

October 15th, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nearly 18 months after Tom Brady agreed to buy a stake in the Raiders, NFL owners have finally approved the measure. The all-time QB great-turned-broadcaster is now a part-owner of the AFC West franchise, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

Brady’s ownership effort receiving the necessary 24 votes Tuesday both finishes his long-running bid to become a part-owner and ensures he will not make a comeback as a player. Brady, 47, had teased the idea as being on his radar — a late-season comeback, that is — but owners were not open to the idea of the 23-year veteran being a part-owner who also plays for a team. The current lead FOX analyst is OK with this and will move into the unique position of being an NFL owner who is also a broadcaster.

Brady is in at roughly 5% of the Raiders, with SI.com’s Albert Breer noting another 5% going to business partner/Knighthead Capital Management co-founder Tom Wagner. With Wagner part of Brady’s group, the latter technically holds a 10% stake in the Las Vegas NFL franchise. Brady had recently raised his ownership bid, doing enough to move this journey into the end zone.

Providing financial details on this transaction, Ben Fisher and Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal report the deal will see Brady and Wagner pay $220MM in equity along with $24MM which will go to the league’s other owners as a condition of the franchise’s move to Vegas. The Raiders’ valuation for the purpose of Brady and Wagner’s addition is roughly $3.5 billion, per the report. Forbes’ most recent valuation checked in at $6.7 billion.

Hall of Famer Richard Seymour, who was believed to have been separated from the Brady stake, is a part-Raiders owner at 0.5%, Breer adds. Seymour did not need to wait nearly as long as Brady did on the ownership front, with a few owners meetings coming and going without the matter being part of an official discussion. That changed Tuesday.

Mark Davis agreed to sell a stake to Brady in May 2023; the two were already partners in the WNBA, with Brady buying a piece of Davis’ Las Vegas Aces franchise. Owners took issue with Brady’s stake price and then expressed concerns about the conflict of interest FOX’s first-team color commentator also owning part of a team. The price issue was ironed out months ago, and going into this season, the NFL imposed a round of Brady-only restrictions that prevent him from attending team facilities or taking part in player and coach broadcast meetings.

The restrictions certainly limit Brady’s ability to do his FOX job, but he did not back down from this Raiders ownership pursuit. As a result, Brady will continue to broadcast without going through the usual pregame work his contemporaries do. Owners’ concern also included Brady appearing at a Raiders practice late last season, putting the eventual limitations in motion, but the recently retired quarterback had said he planned to play a passive role as an owner. That also may be subject to change.

Brady should be expected to have a prominent voice as a Raiders part-owner, an NFL source informed the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. He was linked as being involved in the Raiders’ HC and GM searches, though not to the extent Seymour eventually was. If Brady indeed becomes an integral figure in Raiders football decisions, his FOX role may come under additional scrutiny. And Tom Telesco‘s GM power may be conceivably worth questioning. For now, however, the former Patriots and Buccaneers passer is set for dual NFL citizenship of sorts.

A Brady effort to become a player/owner — with Sean Payton as the coach — for the Dolphins produced significant punishment for the AFC East franchise, though at that point, a player/owner effort was not completely off the table. A rule passed last summer, in the wake of Lionel Messi being given equity in Miami’s MLS club, now nixes any NFL player/owner crusades. As a result, Brady’s playing career will officially end.

The 49ers had pursued Brady after his second retirement, seeking to have him start and mentor Brock Purdy. Brady turning down his hometown team, which presented a loaded roster that eventually pushed the Chiefs to the brink of double overtime in Super Bowl LVIII with Purdy at the controls, effectively confirmed he was done playing. While he unretired once and made mention of doing so in an emergency circumstance again this offseason, the book — barring an about-face on an ownership bid he has spent the better part of the past two years pushing for — is closed on Brady the player.

It will now be interesting to see if Brady indeed takes on an active role with the Raiders. Seymour, Brady’s Patriots teammate who played for the Raiders from 2009-12, has been a Davis confidant for a while and was part of the team’s interview process that produced the Telesco-Antonio Pierce pairing. A Hall of Fame defensive lineman, Seymour will now work with his most prominent former teammate in Vegas.

Aidan O’Connell Could Impact Possibility Of Davante Adams Trade?

October 13th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Rory Parks

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.

Tom Brady Ownership Deal With Raiders To Be Discussed This Week; Not As Sure As Some Think?

October 13th, 2024 at 9:34pm CST by Ely Allen

The NFL’s team owners are set to meet in Atlanta this Tuesday, and according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post, one of the topics of discussion will likely be an approval vote for former quarterback Tom Brady‘s proposed deal for part-ownership of the Raiders.

The future Hall of Famer has been toying around with several post-NFL careers in the last two years. He currently works as an analyst with FOX Sports, has been pursuing an ownership stake in the Raiders, and many times has seemingly flirted with unretiring a second time. His pursuit of the Raiders’ ownership stake has faced its challenges, though, as many have noted a conflict of interest with his broadcasting duties.

Of course, teams do not want anyone with an ownership stake in a rival outfit having the access and obtaining the inside information that broadcasters often enjoy, and Brady has done little to suggest that his access will be any different than that of his media peers. In fact, the only suggestion has been on the other end of the deal with the idea that Brady would be a “very passive” part-owner.

Still, at points in the last calendar year, Brady’s ownership interest was cleared for approval (but an approval vote was still put on hold), former defensive tackle Richard Seymour joined in Brady’s bid, restrictions on Brady’s duties as an announcer were suggested by the NFL, and Brady upped his offer for the ownership stake, separating from Seymour’s bid in the process.

A source for The Washington Post suggested that a vote could finally be coming this Tuesday. Brady and Tom Wagner, a co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management, are reportedly attempting to purchase 10 percent of the franchise at an alleged discounted price from principal owner Mark Davis. The league informed owners that if the vote goes through, Brady’s access to teams in his broadcasting role would be limited. Those limitations include being barred from production meetings with NFL teams and from being present in teams’ facilities during any team activities.

The vote requires at least 24 of the league’s 32 owners to ratify the deal. It’s been pending with the NFL finance committee since last year but has steadily progressed to the point of a potential vote this week. While some NFL sources, like ESPN’s Adam Schefter, seem to expect the vote to pass as a formality, others, like Mike Florio of NBC Sports, still believe that the vote is not a done deal. Several teams were involved in raising concerns about Brady’s broadcasting access, and if just nine of them still hold reservations, the deal may get declined.

Florio also reports that Seymour’s bid, which, again, was separated from Brady’s, has a better chance of approval. Seymour’s bid has progressed like Brady’s but is unburdened by the conflicts of Brady’s deal. An end to both situations could be in sight this week.

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