Davante Adams

Chiefs, Commanders, Ravens Out On Davante Adams; Raiders Open To Retaining WR?

October 9th, 2024 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The pack is thinning in the Davante Adams pursuit. Although the teams most closely linked to the Raiders wide receiver remain in the hunt, some of the second-tier pursuers are no longer part of this mix.

Never a realistic destination due to their AFC West proximity, the Chiefs are indeed out on Adams. The same goes for the Commanders and Ravens, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur. Both Mid-Atlantic teams were believed to be in on Adams, along with the usual suspects since the WR’s trade request, but Baltimore had been drifting out of the picture.

The Commanders were listed as an Adams dark-horse destination over the weekend, but this is the second time GM Adam Peters has stood down on a big-ticket pass catcher. Brandon Aiyuk, who played a season with Jayden Daniels at Arizona State, would have been amenable to a Washington trade. But the Commanders did not show much interest in the 49ers WR this offseason. Now, the Commanders are passing on Adams, who comes with a salary teams are not keen on paying.

Adams ignited Baltimore speculation by tweeting a picture of Edgar Allan Poe last week, but the Ravens have not discussed the wideout with the Raiders in several days. The Cowboys balked due to the Raiders’ insistence they pay all of Adams’ prorated salary, per The Athletic. Dallas was mentioned as a team who checked in with the Raiders but deemed not interested soon after. Other clubs are joining Jerry Jones‘ team.

The Saints and Jets are still in this, and veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson adds Derek Carr‘s injury — an oblique issue expected to cost the QB multiple games — does not change New Orleans’ interest in this big swing. The Steelers have reached out as well, per The Athletic, while the Bills are monitoring this situation. Buffalo joined Baltimore in deeming the Raiders’ asking price as too high, but the Bills being somewhat concerned about their receiver situation may change the equation. The Steelers have been looking at WRs since establishing Brandon Aiyuk trade framework.

While ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler points to the Saints as being a slight favorite here now, ESPN colleague Adam Schefter indicates (video link) Raiders talks with the Saints and Jets may be slowing down due to the Robert Saleh firing and Carr injury respectively affecting those respective teams. This somewhat contradicts Anderson’s account re: the Saints, but while Adams is still interested in being dealt to New York or New Orleans, this process does appear to have hit a lull.

The main reason for the slowdown: the Raiders’ hope they can unload Adams for strong draft compensation and convince the acquiring team to pay the entirety of his prorated base salary. At least one team negotiating with the Raiders was told the AFC West club does not intend to pay any of the wideout’s remaining 2024 base, Fowler adds. This hardline stance obviously will give teams pause about giving up a plus asset — the Raiders want a second-round pick and more — for a soon-to-be 31-year-old receiver who is due $11.92MM for the season’s remainder.

On the New Orleans front, Anderson adds the prospect of giving up a higher-end draft choice here has not gained much traction. While the Saints are known for their salary cap wizardry, they only hold $2.6MM in space as of Wednesday. Mickey Loomis‘ club would need to make significant adjustments to accommodate all of Adams’ money — to the point it might be a nonstarter for the Saints if the Raiders refuse paying any of Adams’ salary.

As for the Jets, The Athletic notes they are still talking to the Raiders despite having fired Saleh. That decision conceivably moves Joe Douglas closer to the chopping block, but the sixth-year GM is still running point on negotiations that will help the 2024 Jets. Considering the jobs on the line and Aaron Rodgers‘ urging for this reunion, it would surprise if New York was not in this until the end.

Adams had pledged continued support for the Raiders’ cause, denying trade rumors for a while, but Fowler adds the quarterback situation — which has featured a months-long, on-and-off competition between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell — has factored into the receiver’s decision to ask out. Adams displayed clear frustration during the Raiders’ short-lived Jimmy Garoppolo QB1 period, making it unsurprising a player who built a Hall of Fame case with Rodgers and produced first-team All-Pro numbers with Carr would want much more of the Raiders’ current situation.

That said, the onus for an Adams trade to take place as soon as possible falls on the Raiders, who are paying the disgruntled wideout nearly $1MM per week until he is dealt. The Raiders carry more than $26MM in cap space and need a long-term quarterback, making it a bit odd they are holding the line financially when paying some of Adams’ money would bring better trade compensation. Also complicating Adams’ situation: his hamstring injury will sideline him for Week 6, Fowler adds. A previous report pointed to Adams being ready for Week 6; a three-week injury absence stands to give teams more pause.

Adams requesting a meeting with Antonio Pierce to express his demand to be traded to a better team surprised his coach, according to The Athletic. Adams had stumped for Pierce to be elevated to the full-time HC post, but the parties’ relationship has deteriorated since. The Raiders said they would accommodate him due to not wanting uncommitted players. Adams was then informed of the Pierce Instagram like regarding a trade the next morning during his appearance on Up & Adams.

It should now be noted that Pierce is not slamming the door shut on Adams playing for the team again. Pierce said he and Adams have talked since the trade request surfaced, and it sounds like the Raiders — potentially in a posturing move — are open to keeping Adams.

“He is in good spirits, we talked … so everything’s good. … He is still a Raider. He has never not been a Raider,” Pierce said, via Tafur. “When he’s healthy and can play, we’ll play him. He’s working everyday to get that hamstring right and he’s in the right headspace mentally. Like I said, we talked recently, had a good conversation and he’s ready to play football.”

Unless Pierce’s Wednesday words do prompt a reconciliation, the Raiders are preparing to say goodbye to the first receiver they have seen snare first-team All-Pro honors since Hall of Famer Cliff Branch in 1976. Teams will save more than $940K each week by waiting, as the NFL’s offseason deadline change resulted in a Nov. 5 trade endpoint for this year.

Teams Unwilling To Meet Raiders’ Davante Adams Asking Price Absent Salary Retention

October 7th, 2024 at 9:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

A resolution to the Davante Adams situation could be coming soon, but the Raiders may well need to make a concession on one of two fronts. The team is asking for a package involving a second-round pick in an Adams trade, and Vegas hopes to avoid retaining any of his remaining 2024 salary.

If the Raiders are to have their asking price in terms of draft capital met – something they are reportedly insistent on – a lower financial cost will be needed for an acquiring team. Veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports teams interested in adding Adams view it as “unrealistic” to send a Day 2 pick to Vegas while also taking on the remainder of Adams’ salary. That figure would sit at $11.92MM if a deal were to be worked out this week without any retention.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms Adams’ trade market will likely force the Raiders to eat some of the six-time Pro Bowler’s outstanding compensation before a deal is made. Vegas obviously prefers to avoid doing so, but with nearly $27MM in cap space the team has the flexibility to take that route provided it becomes conditional for a swap to take place. A number of suitors are in place, but the field of contenders could widen if the financial cost of an Adams acquisition were to be lowered.

As expected, the Jets and Saints are at the top of the list regarding teams to watch in this case, with New Orleans having been the most aggressive in the pursuit of an agreement. A weekend report stated Adams has concerns about quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ future in New York beyond 2024, something which could factor into a reunion between the two. Adams is under contract through 2026, but the absence of guaranteed money after the current year essentially makes him a rental as things stand.

If the three-time All-Pro were to work out an extended stay with a new team, a restructure would be necessary. That, in turn, would no doubt include at least some guaranteed money being added for 2025 while lowering his future cap hits. With Adams, 31, running out of time to land future big-money contracts, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports predicts his financial outlook will be a key factor in determining where he lands (in addition to trade terms being worked out between the Raiders and an acquiring team, of course).

Robinson adds Adams is no longer viewed as highly in league circles as he once was. The Fresno State product topped 1,100 yards five times from 2018-23, and his 69.7 yards per game average this season nearly falls in line with his career average. Still, his age and the hamstring injury which sidelined him for the past two games – but is expected to fully healed in time for Week 6 – threaten to limit how much teams like the Jets or Saints (in addition to other potential suitors like the Steelers, Bills, Ravens and Commanders) are willing to commit.

When speaking to the media on Monday, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said the situation has not changed regarding Adams’ health or his trade status (video link). Keeping in line with his previous stance on the matter, he declined to comment on the reasoning behind Adams’ trade request from last week, something which emerged amongst reports Vegas was making contact with other teams. Whether or not an agreement is worked out with one of them shortly remains a major midseason storyline.

Raiders Aiming To Trade WR Davante Adams Soon

October 7th, 2024 at 12:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

By the time teams convene for Wednesday practices, Davante Adams may well have a new uniform assigned to him. The Raiders are aiming to be done with this process this week.

More specifically, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates Las Vegas wants Adams to have a new home within the next 48 hours. Requesting a trade days ago, Adams is onboard with this timeline. While also offering that the Raiders want this deal done soon, veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz adds the team is still not prepared to settle for a below-market deal for its top offensive player.

The Jets and Saints remain the favorites, according to Russini, though the Steelers may be the top lurking team here. The most smoke has come out of New York, however, even if Adams is believed to have some concerns about Aaron Rodgers‘ post-2024 future there. The longtime Rodgers weapon had similar reservations about signing a Packers extension, with Rodgers in year-to-year mode at that point, and eventually made it known he preferred a Derek Carr reunion with the Raiders. That experiment fizzled quickly, and it is not hard to see why the Saints are involved.

Rodgers threw three interceptions Sunday, dropping the Jets to 2-3. New York’s two wins have come over downtrodden teams, and time is running out for the Joe Douglas-Robert Saleh-Nathaniel Hackett trio. The pressure on this Jets power structure makes it logical it would gamble on Adams by parting with a valuable future asset, rather than let their potential successors use it as Adams ends up elsewhere. The Jets have not been shy about catering to its quarterback’s wishes, so they should be expected to stay in this mix until the end.

The Raiders want at least a second-round pick for Adams, who is under contract through 2026. Mark Davis is believed to be resolute on that price for a player he was hesitant to give up this offseason. With Las Vegas in limbo, having again benched its starting quarterback (months after a trade-up effort failed), acquiring an asset for its top skill player has always made more sense than hanging onto a weapon that has seemed out of place for over a year.

A Saints arrival would require more Mickey Loomis cap gymnastics, but some of the odysseys the longtime GM has completed to reach offseason cap compliance certainly would not make such a journey unrealistic. The Saints, however, have barely $2.5MM in cap space. The Jets sit at $17.3MM. This would make New York a more appealing partner for Las Vegas, which would understandably prefer to avoid paying some of Adams’ salary to help the acquiring team. (A team obtaining Adams this week would be on the hook for $11.92MM in base salary, should the Raiders pay nothing.)

Though, this route can boost trade compensation, as the Broncos found out when they pried second- and third-rounders from the Rams for agreeing to pay most of Von Miller‘s 2021 salary. How much the Raiders would be willing to eat may well determine if the Saints are a viable option. The Steelers hold $10.5MM in cap room. If the Raiders move on now and not agree to pay any of Adams’ remaining base salary, they would save more than $19MM in cap space, much of which would stand to be rolled over into 2025.

Several other teams — from the Bills to the Browns to the Chiefs to the Commanders to the Ravens — have been tied to Adams. The Chiefs should be considered extremely unlikely for obvious reasons, and the Ravens have not discussed Adams with the Raiders in days. A Washington landing would be interesting, given Jayden Daniels‘ status as the runaway Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, while Buffalo — after opting to trade Stefon Diggs — may be more amenable to meeting Vegas’ terms after Josh Allen struggled without Khalil Shakir available Sunday. The Bills have two 2025 second-round picks, via the Diggs trade.

Other wideouts are undoubtedly set to become available, but Adams being on the block early presents help nearly a month before the trade deadline. The 31-year-old WR’s hamstring injury is not expected to be an issue much longer. While a trade now would mean a higher base salary for a player who may end up a rental — as two nonguaranteed years at high prices ($35.6MM, $36.6MM) remain on Adams’ contract — but this is a rare talent who should have some productive years left. We appear close to learning Adams’ third NFL destination.

Raiders’ Davante Adams Likely To Recover In Time For Week 6; Latest On Trade Market

October 6th, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 6: Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette confirms the Steelers are among the teams which have called about Adams’ availability. As he notes, though, it remains to be seen how much interest Adams would have in heading to Pittsburgh and committing to the necessary contract adjustments for a deal to become feasible. Adams does not have a no-trade clause or other official leverage in determining his destination, meaning the Steelers remain in play as a suitor; whether they become a serious contender to swing a trade remains to be seen, though.

OCTOBER 5: Davante Adams will not play on Sunday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. That process has doubled as the intensification of his trade market, with several suitors being linked to an agreement with the Raiders.

Vegas is insisting on a trade price of a second-round pick and more to move on from the All-Pro wideout. Retaining some of his salary could take place to make that possible, but Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson writes multiple league executives view that price as “exorbitant.” Even with a lesser financial acquisition cost, teams could be hard-pressed to part with signficant draft capital for player whose non-guaranteed salaries in 2025 and ’26 would essentially make him a rental, something a number of suitors view him as.

A long-term commitment in Adams would, on the other hand, especially make sense if it were to come from the Jets or Saints. Those teams have long been at the top of the list of teams mentioned as landing spots for the 31-year-old, whose preference would be to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. A deal sending him to New Orleans and thus reconnecting him with Derek Carr and receivers coach Keith Williams is also on the radar, though, and Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports Adams has “concerns” about Rodgers’ willingness to remain with New York beyond 2024 (subscription required).

While several reports still tap the Jets as the frontrunner in this case, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds the Saints have been the most aggressive suitor to date. New Orleans does not have the necessary cap space to swing an Adams acquisition, and the team is (as per usual) on track to require several cuts and restructures to attain compliance next offseason. Taking on Adams’ contract now and in the future would be a challenge, though bringing him into the fold could prove to be highly impactful in the NFC South race.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, to little surprise, the Raiders’ preference would be to avoid retaining any portion of Adams’ outstanding base salary (roughly $13.5MM at this point). That could limit the number of suitors unless the asking price in terms of draft compensation were to come down, but many are still in contention as things stand. The Commanders may be among them, but even if not the Steelers, Ravens and Bills have made inquiries as well. Russini adds Pittsburgh – connected to non-Adams trade targets as well – is making an “aggressive” offer, although no deal with any team is considered imminent.

As for Baltimore and Buffalo, Robinson notes a second-rounder is too high of an asking price for a deal to receive serious consideration. The Ravens, per Schefter, have not been in contact with the Raiders for several days. The Cowboys will be without Brandin Cooks for at least four games, but the team has made it clear fitting Adams into its financial planning would be a tall order. 49ers general manager John Lynch‘s latest comments on a potential pursuit of the six-time Pro Bowler, meanwhile, suggested San Francisco is an unlikely destination. The same may well be true of the Chiefs, but they are positioned to test the Raiders’ stance on taking the best offer given their need for a receiver.

Rapoport’s piece notes Adams is likely to be healed in time for Week 6. Trade talks should heat up in the coming days, he and Schefter add, so further developments on this ever-evolving front can be expected. November 5 looms as the trade deadline, and as such the Raiders can still afford to be patient while attempting to cultivate the best market possible over the near future.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice To Undergo Arthroscopic Procedure; Outcome Will Impact Team’s Trade Outlook

October 6th, 2024 at 8:28am CST by Rory Parks

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is presently on injured reserve with a possible but unconfirmed ACL tear, will undergo an arthroscopic procedure this week to determine the extent of the damage, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ team doctor.

At this point, there are still a number of possible outcomes: damage to just the supporting ligaments in the knee, which would not require a surgery (a best-scenario in which Rice would miss four to six weeks); a torn PCL and LCL but no ACL damage (which would nonetheless force him to miss four to six months); or damage to the ACL that is significant enough to warrant an operation (which comes with a nine-month recovery timeframe). Per Rapoport, the chances that the testing will show that Rice’s knee is strong enough to return to the field in 2024 are slim, but Kansas City is obviously still hopeful.

In keeping with a different Rapoport story from last week and his report on the above-referenced knee scope, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com expects the Chiefs to explore a trade for a receiver in advance of the November 5 deadline if Rice is indeed forced to miss the remainder of the season. We heard several days ago that Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins is drawing trade interest, and both Rapoport and Schefter name the three-time First Team All-Pro as a target if Tennessee decides to sell.

The Raiders’ Davante Adams is presently the big fish in the pool of WR trade candidates, although neither Rapoport nor Schefter see Las Vegas and Kansas City pulling off an intra-division deal of this magnitude. However, the Jets are one of the frontrunners for Adams, and if they pull off a deal for his services, Schefter believes they may be amenable to moving one of their other wideouts in a separate trade. Speculatively, Mike Williams is a player the Chiefs might target in such a scenario.

The Chiefs have a Week 6 bye and will use it to assess their WR situation, as Rapoport details. He and Schefter disagree about how much available cap space Kansas City has at the moment – Rapoport says $15MM, while Schefter says $5MM – but in any event, Rapoport notes that the club wants to roll over as many cap dollars as possible into 2025 to facilitate second contracts for players like Trent McDuffie, Trey Smith, and George Karlaftis. While that will likely not dissuade the Chiefs from swinging a trade that would help secure another championship, it will at least factor into their decision-making.

In addition to the impact it will have on the trade deadline landscape, the upcoming arthroscopic procedure could play a role in the suspension that Rice is expected to receive for his offseason legal trouble. A recent report suggested that Rice is aiming to serve his suspension this season, because if he is going to be unavailable anyway due to injury, then it certainly makes sense for him and the team to get it over with. Of course, such an outcome would not sit well with the rest of the league.

Commanders Interested In Davante Adams Trade?

October 5th, 2024 at 9:12am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets and Saints continue to be the most popular landing spots for Davante Adams, but there are plenty of other teams interested in acquiring the All-Pro receiver. Over the past week, we’ve heard the likes of the Steelers, Bills, Cowboys, Ravens, 49ers, and Chiefs connected to the Raiders wideout, and now another team could be entering the fray.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, league executives believe the Commanders could be a dark horse contender in the trade sweepstakes. However, Fowler cautions that the Commanders’ young core means they may not be the best fit for the 31-year-old wide receiver.

Fowler brings up a fair point, but the Commanders’ interest wouldn’t be completely random. Jayden Daniels has quickly validated his second-overall-pick draft stock, and with the Commanders sitting at a surprising 3-1, the front office may be willing to make win-now moves while also surrounding their rookie QB with as much talent as possible.

Further, the Commanders’ wide receivers room could use a spark of talent. Terry McLaurin continues to lead the depth chart, and the team has high hopes for third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey. Otherwise, the team’s WR depth consists of Noah Brown, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jamison Crowder (who is currently on IR). Adams would undeniably provide an upgrade to the team’s current receiver corps.

While the Commanders may be entering the bidding war, one team is pumping the brakes on their reported interest. During an appearance on KNBR’s Murph & Markus, 49ers general manager John Lynch acknowledged that his team would consider any improvement to the roster. However, the GM also noted that the 49ers will soon have their entire WR grouping back on the field, with the likes of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall all deserving of playing time.

“We like our group. Davante’s a hell of a player,” Lynch said (via Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area). “One thing we’ve shown is we’re always looking, we’re never afraid to look and see what’s out there. We’re never afraid to pull the trigger. But I think coming in this year, we feel our roster is in a pretty good spot.

“We have endured some injuries, but we’ll never say never. And it’s got to work. It’s got to work for both sides, but it’s got to work for us. I won’t comment on any specific player but right now we like where our roster is at.”

While the speculation is fun, the rumor mill isn’t expected to last a whole lot longer. One league executive told Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post that they expect Adams to be traded within the next week or two, with the wideout potentially being dealt before he’s ready to return from his hamstring injury. Fowler echoed that sentiment, saying he expects trade talks to heat up next week.

Raiders To Insist On Second-Round Pick For Davante Adams; Team Willing To Pay Part Of WR’s Salary?

October 4th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Davante Adams has emerged as the early crown jewel of the NFL’s trade deadline, with multiple interested teams reaching out to the Raiders to gauge their desired compensation for the three-time All-Pro.

Adams’ market is impacted by his hefty contract, ongoing injury, and desire to reunite with either Aaron Rodgers in New York or Derek Carr in New Orleans. The veteran receiver is owed just shy of $1MM per week for the remainder of the season with $35.6MM and $36.6MM salaries in 2025 and 2026, respectively, though neither future year features any guaranteed money. While several teams, including the Jets, could afford Adams’ remaining 2024 salary without any other financial moves, others, like the Saints, would have to free up enough cap space to afford him.

The Raiders are willing to eat some of Adams’ remaining salary to facilitate a trade, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who adds they are determining how much they are onboard with paying. General manager Tom Telesco is seeking a second-round pick in exchange for Adams, possibly as a directive from Raiders owner Mark Davis, who has repeatedly stated a desire to keep Adams in Las Vegas. Other league decision-makers believe that a third-round pick plus additional Day 3 capital or a depth player could be enough to get a deal done.

The Raiders were approached about Adams at last year’s trade deadline, including an offer worth more than a second-round pick, per Jones. Las Vegas never seriously entertained moving its star wideout, a decision the team could regret in hindsight if Adams is traded for less in the coming weeks. Last year’s trade deadline brought an interesting Davis decision to keep Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler running his team before firing the HC-GM duo hours later. Meanwhile, Adams stayed and also expressed a continued preference to stay in Vegas this offseason. That has since changed, and his hamstring injury may ensure he is done in Silver and Black.

Adams’ trade saga is further complicated by the injury that will sideline him for a second straight game after not practicing this week. The injury is minor, but legitimate, so any acquiring team will want to ensure they are getting the best, most healthy version of Adams possible. Waiting for him to fully recover would also reduce the financial burden for Adams’ next team, as the Raiders will continue to pay his salary and per-game roster bonuses as long as he is on the active roster.

Adams is angling for a reunion with Rodgers after the duo’s success in Green Bay, and the Jets are one of the few teams that can afford his 2024 salary outright. The Raiders, however, are intent on inciting a bidding war to push their compensation closer to the second-round pick they desire. Another half-dozen teams have been linked with Adams, including the Saints, Steelers, Bills, Cowboys, Ravens, 49ers, and Chiefs. While the Cowboys have disavowed any interest, Adams should still have a robust list of suitors that should help drive up his trade value.

Team expectations will play a role in negotiations as well: if multiple teams have made similar offers, the Raiders will try to predict which one will finish with the worst record and accept their deal, resulting in better draft pick. The Steelers operated this way with Chase Claypool at the 2022 deadline.

If the Jets are able to acquire Adams, some around the league believe they could look to dealing veteran receiver Mike Williams to open up roster space and wide receiver snaps for their new All-Pro, according to Jones. Trading Williams would also clear $1.2MM in cap space for the Jets, making it slightly easier to fit Adams into their budget, though they would be responsible for Williams’ $1.5MM dead cap hit in 2024 and $5.9MM dead cap hit in 2025 (due to void years), per OverTheCap.

Davante Adams Aiming For Jets Trade; Raiders To Accept Highest Offer

October 3rd, 2024 at 10:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Davante Adams is unlikely to play in Week 5, but the matter of his hamstring injury is a minor element to his ongoing storyline. The Raiders continue to have discussions tied to dealing the All-Pro wideout to a new team, although an expected suitor is in place as his target.

Adams wants to play with the Jets, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. That update comes as no surprise considering the mutual interest showed by both Adams and Aaron Rodgers to reunite in New York. The Jets are among the numerous teams which have inquired about a deal, and reporting from yesterday tapped them as the favorites to pull off a trade. Other suitors remain in the running, though.

Rapoport notes Adams has not insisted to the Raiders he will only go to New York, adding other teams appeal to him as well. The Saints, Steelers, Bills and Cowboys are teams which have had conversations about a deal, although Dallas is no longer believed to be interested in adding the 31-year-old. Rapoport lists the Ravens and 49ers as destinations Adams could be amenable to. San Francisco currently leads the league in cap space ($56.74MM), while Baltimore has just $4.31MM and would need to execute a number of maneuvers to made an Adams deal feasible.

Any acquiring team would take on a prorated portion of the Fresno State product’s $16.89MM base salary (along with $30K in weekly roster bonuses) to fit him into their 2024 cap structure. Two more years remain on Adams’ deal, but a restructure resulting in guaranteed money for 2025 and beyond along with a drop in cap hits is expected regardless of where he winds up. The Raiders could increase the value of draft pick compensation coming back in a trade by retaining some salary. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini names the Bills and Chiefs as suitors monitoring the market which could make a more notable push in the event Vegas were to absorb some of the outstanding compensation.

While it would certainly be notable if Kansas City – a team which could use an addition at the receiver spot – were to emerge as a legitimate contender for an intra-divisional deal, Rapoport reports the Raiders are prepared to take the highest offer they receive. That may still come from the Jets (who currently have $16.81MM in cap space), but stronger bids from Derek Carr‘s Saints or another team would complicate efforts on New York’s part to work out an agreement. The Raiders’ asking price reportedly starts with a second-round pick, but that would change if salary retention were to be brought into the equation.

Adams was sidelined for Week 4, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports he is not expected to play this week against the Broncos. Russini adds Adams could be back to full health in time for Week 6 if he does not encounter any setbacks. If the former second-rounder is at full strength before a trade is worked out, Rapoport notes Adams could continue playing for Vegas, something which appeared to be in store for the rest of the campaign until earlier this week.

Rapoport adds nothing is imminent on the trade front at this time. Given Adams’ openness to moving on and the Raiders’ willingness to seek out his market amongst interested parties, though, the possibility remains this situation will see a resolution before the November 5 trade deadline which results in a change of scenery. If the Raiders remain committed to taking the best offer on the table, it will be interesting to see how urgently the Jets pursue a deal.

Assessing Jets’ Compensation In Potential Davante Adams Trade

October 3rd, 2024 at 9:15pm CST by Ely Allen

One of the most popular potential new destinations for Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is New York. The Jets form an obvious connection to Adams due to the presence of a few former Packers, including offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and wide receiver Allen Lazard. But what would it take to make this deal happen? Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York dove into this hypothetical today, looking into just what options were available for the Jets.

For starters, Las Vegas reportedly wants draft compensation. The Jets do not lack for that this year. They currently have their full cache of draft picks in 2025 (minus a seventh-round pick that was sent to Kansas City along with Mecole Hardman in return for a sixth-round pick). In addition to the Chiefs’ sixth-round pick, the Raiders also hold an additional third-round pick from the Lions, who received a fourth-round 2024 draft pick in exchange.

They’ll have six picks in 2026. Their second- or third-round pick will go to Philadelphia depending on the playing time and sack production of Haason Reddick. Based on Reddick’s holdout for a new contract, it’s looking more likely to be their third-round pick that changes hands. The Jets also gave up their seventh-rounder in 2026 along with undrafted rookie cornerback and return man Brandon Codrington in exchange for the Bills’ sixth-round pick, and they sent John Franklin-Myers to Denver for their sixth-rounder, as well.

New York doesn’t just have draft compensation to offer, though. If the Raiders are looking for a receiver in return for Adams, the Jets would likely be willing to part ways with one, since too many mouths to feed on offense can be a detriment at times. Garrett Wilson is surely not on the table, but Hughes notes that Lazard, Mike Williams, Xavier Gipson, and Malachi Corley could all be included in a trade package.

Lazard and Williams aren’t too likely to be included. In a resurgent year with his former Packers quarterback, Lazard leads the team in receiving yards (206) and touchdowns (3). Williams started the season slow as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery but has improved each week en route to eight catches for 120 yards. The young receivers, Gipson and Corley, have been virtual non-factors this year on the offense, but Gipson’s return ability and Corley’s third-round draft stock could both add value to a trade package.

As for Reddick, Hughes reports that there is belief that he could be included, but as of today, that is not the case, though the situation remains fluid.

Another factor in the trade could come from the Raiders’ side of things. Financially, taking on this year of Adams’ contract at this time would require the Jets to pay him around $13MM this year. It’s expected that, in order to lessen the financial burden of taking on Adams, the Jets could request that Las Vegas restructure their deal with Adams before trading him. The request would entail the Raiders converting a portion of his remaining salary for the year into a signing bonus (that would be paid by Las Vegas), lowering the remaining salary for New York to pay. The restructuring part of the agreement would likely need to be compensated for with an additional late-round draft pick.

Like Reddick’s involvement, everything about this situation remains fluid. General manager Joe Douglas has lots of options if he and the Jets decide that Adams is worth pursuing. They won’t be lacking for competition to land the talented wide receiver, though, so every one of those options could prove to be a valuable trade piece in the making.

Cowboys Will Not Pursue Davante Adams Trade

October 3rd, 2024 at 5:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 3: During an appearance on San Antonio Sports Star, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones confirmed an Adams pursuit will not be taking place (h/t Jon Machota of The Athletic). With Lamb on the books and Parsons in need of an extension next offseason, taking on Adams’ deal and agreeing to a restructure would be challenging. Adams’ preference is the Jets anyway, and the Raiders will likely have stronger offers than what Dallas would have been willing to make.

OCTOBER 2: In the hours since the Davante Adams trade rumors began to swirl, the Cowboys emerged as a team that inquired about the standout Raiders wide receiver. While that may well be true, Dallas does not appear a serious player.

The Cowboys are not expected to pursue an Adams trade, with All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill going as far as to indicate the team has shown “no interest” in the 11th-year receiver. This comes after the team shot down interest in acquiring a running back or defensive end via trade.

Dallas received strong value from its 2018 trade with Oakland for Amari Cooper, who helped the ’18 Cowboys edition craft a second-half turnaround to the playoffs and stayed through the 2021 season. The Cowboys bailed on Cooper’s five-year contract, dealing it to the Browns, but have been searching for WR help since. Although CeeDee Lamb has soared onto the All-Pro tier post-Cooper, the Cowboys have not possessed too much depth at the position since that swap.

An Adams trade would reunite him with Mike McCarthy, the Packers’ HC for the first four-plus seasons of the All-Pro’s career. The Packers employed McCarthy as HC when they extended Adams in 2017, though his jump onto the All-Pro level came during Matt LaFleur‘s tenure. Adams played as a third wheel behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb to start his career but began to ascend in the late 2010s. McCarthy’s current team is not set to be the destination for Adams’ late prime.

This Adams news comes shortly after Brandin Cooks was ruled out for Week 5; the player the Cowboys eventually settled on to replace Cooper is battling a knee injury stemming from an infection. Cooks has not provided the Cowboys with the level of play he reached at his previous four stops, but he has been sporadically effective. The Cowboys have used 2022 third-rounder Jalen Tolbert more this season as well; the South Alabama alum has played 75% of Dallas’ offensive snaps. With Cooks out for the time being, Tolbert will continue to see regular usage. McCarthy said Wednesday he is comfortable with his in-house options at WR, though the fifth-year Dallas HC cannot exactly say he wants Adams in Dallas due to the NFL’s tampering policy.

It cost the Cowboys a first-round pick to acquire Cooper in 2018; Adams may be moved for a second-rounder (or less) due to his age (32 in December) and contract status. Adams is tied to a prorated $16.9MM base salary. Though, the Raiders can follow some recent teams by picking up some of Adams’ tab to increase trade compensation. Two nonguaranteed years remain on Adams’ extension, though the Cowboys just handed out two top-market deals and have another (Micah Parsons‘) on the horizon. Regardless, it appears the Cowboys will not be part of this conversation.

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