The Las Vegas Raiders could decide not to move Davante Adams despite the six-time Pro Bowler’s trade request, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Per Schefter, the Raiders are “adamant that they won’t simply trade Adams for the sake of trading him; they are content to hold onto the three-time All Pro if their conditions are not satisfied.”
Schefter reported other teams have asked after Adams, but that one source described the demand as not “phone-is-ringing-off-the-hook interest.”
Schefter previously wrote that Raiders are seeking a second-round pick plus additional assets for Adams.
The New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints have spoken, or plan to speak, with the Raiders about Adams’ availability, Schefter reported.
The Raiders are unwilling to pay any of the remaining money due to Adams as part of his $16.89 million salary this season, per Schefter.
Given the potential out in his contract following the 2024 season, that could be a steep price for another team to pay for what is essentially a midseason rental.
But as noted by NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, the Raiders are paying more than $980,000 to Adams for each week he remains on the roster, making their decision to hold out on a potential trade a costly one.
Adams, who had topped 1,000 yards in each of his prior four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the Raiders, was off to a relatively slow start to the 2024 season before being sidelined with hamstring injury prior to Week 4.
The veteran wideout had made 18 catches for 209 yards and one touchdown prior to his injury, which Schefter reported occurred during practice.
Adams has since been sidelined for Weeks 4 and 5, during which the Raiders went through a quarterback change. Gardner Minshew was benched during last Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos, and Aidan O’Connell was named starter ahead of this Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Schefter believes that this change could help encourage Adams to stay in Las Vegas. According to Schefter, Adams is “a big supporter” of O’Connell, and playing with him instead of Minshew would be “appealing.” Schefter wrote that sources told him this connection “should not be discounted or overlooked” when discussing a potential Adams trade.
The Raiders have until Nov. 5 to make a final decision on Adams. For now, head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters earlier this week that Adams has “never not been a Raider,” and that he was improving and would rejoin practice once he was healthy.
Leave a Reply