Davante Adams will not be playing on Sunday as he continues recovering from a hamstring injury. This recovery period has also coincided with an increase in trade discussions, with multiple teams showing interest in acquiring the Raiders’ star wide receiver.
The Raiders are demanding a second-round pick and additional compensation for Adams, a price that Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reports several league executives find “exorbitant.”
While Las Vegas might consider covering part of his salary to facilitate a trade, the high draft capital required, combined with Adams’ non-guaranteed salaries in 2025 and 2026, makes him a potential rental. This has made teams hesitant to offer significant assets for him.
However, a long-term investment in Adams could make sense for teams like the Jets or Saints, both of which have been linked to the 31-year-old. Adams reportedly prefers reuniting with Aaron Rodgers, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes he has concerns about Rodgers’ commitment to New York beyond 2024.
The Saints are also a strong contender, with the possibility of Adams reconnecting with former teammate Derek Carr and receivers coach Keith Williams.
While the Jets are still seen as the frontrunners, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport states the Saints have been the most aggressive in pursuing Adams.
New Orleans faces significant salary cap challenges, as they typically do, and would need to make multiple cuts or restructures to accommodate Adams’ contract, both now and in the future. Still, adding Adams could be pivotal for the Saints in their NFC South campaign.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders are reluctant to retain any of Adams’ remaining base salary (approximately $13.5 million), which could narrow the list of suitors unless their draft compensation demands are lowered.
Despite this, several teams remain interested. The Commanders may be among them, while the Steelers, Ravens, and Bills have all made inquiries. Russini reports Pittsburgh has put forward an “aggressive” offer, though no trade is imminent.
For Baltimore and Buffalo, a second-round pick is viewed as too steep, with Robinson noting the Ravens haven’t contacted the Raiders in several days. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, dealing with the absence of Brandin Cooks for at least four games, have expressed financial concerns about acquiring Adams.
49ers GM John Lynch has also downplayed the possibility of Adams joining San Francisco, and while the Chiefs could test the Raiders’ willingness to negotiate, they too face hurdles in fitting him into their budget.
Adams is expected to be healthy in time for Week 6, according to Rapoport. As the November 5 trade deadline approaches, talks are expected to intensify, with both Rapoport and Schefter indicating further developments are likely in the near future. The Raiders still have time to be patient and seek out the best possible deal.
