Could Davante Adams demand a trade out of Las Vegas? It is certainly possible. After the Raiders loss to the Steelers, Davante had some interesting things to say: “I don’t got time to wait around. It’s not a personal thing. I mean it is a personal thing, but it ain’t just about me.” He later stated, “It’s not my mentality to sit here and try to take all season to figure out and use these early games like this to establish our identity. We’re not doing the things the right way to establish a winning culture early in the season, so we gotta do something to turn that around.”
The Raiders have since dropped a game to the Los Angeles Chargers and now sit at 1-3 on the season. Las Vegas is simply not a playoff-caliber team and Adams isn’t getting any younger. In 2022, Adams was elite once again, recording 180 targets, 100 catches, 1,1516 receiving yards, and 14 TDs. So far in the 2023 season, he has 33 receptions for 397 yards and three TDs. It doesn’t matter who his quarterback is; Davante Adams is one of the best in the game.
Adams is clearly frustrated with the team and could force his way out. Keep in mind, Adams signed a five-year, $140 million deal with $65.7 guaranteed before the 2022 season. There is a potential out for the Raiders after the 2024 season in which they would incur a $15.7 million dead cap hit if he were to be released, but that seems unlikely given the caliber of player Adams is. The way the contract is structured, there is a $44.1 million cap hit in both 2025 and 2026, with a void year in 2027 to push some of that guaranteed money back if necessary.
Let’s take a look at my top six trade destinations if Adams were to demand a trade. Cap space provided by Over the Cap.
6. Dallas Cowboys
2023 Cap Space – $7.9 Million
2024 Cap Space – $144k
The Cowboys are always a team that gets floated around when a star player wants out because they are “America’s team” and Jerry Jones isn’t afraid to make a bold move. However, given the ample amount of cap space available, this seems very unlikely. The Cowboys already have several big contracts on the books and need to pay star pass rusher Micah Parsons and star wide receiver Ceedee Lamb. We have seen front offices manipulate the cap before and kick the can down the road, but I don’t believe Dallas is in position to do that.
5. Green Bay Packers
2023 Cap Space – $9.7 Million
2024 Cap Space – $34.3 Million
Imagine if Davante wanted to go back to the team that drafted him? I don’t find it likely, but it would be a ton of fun to see this reunion happen and the Packer faithful would absolutely love it. The Packers have the youngest wide receiver core in the NFL and could benefit from having an alpha like Adams join the group to not only mentor the young bucks (I am a big fan of Christian Watson and Jayden Reed), but to help take Jordan Love’s game to the next level. I have been impressed with Love so far this season despite the ugly performance against Detroit and would love to see him play with a guy like Adams.
4. Cleveland Browns
2023 Cap Space – $34.6 Million
2024 Cap Space – $6.6 Million
This one would be tough long-term given Deshaun Watson’s ridiculous cap hits (check out my Watson blog to get a better idea), but the Browns have already shown they are going all in this year. With the loss of Nick Chubb for the season, this offense needs more playmakers. Adams and Amari Cooper would form an elite wide receiver tandem and would help Watson tremendously. The defense is elite, ranking towards the top of the league in yards and points allowed per game. It just seems to me like too much is on Watson’s shoulders right now, and if he is going to get back to the player we saw in Houston (I have my doubts), adding Adams could be the best way to do it.
3. New England Patriots
2023 Cap Space – $4.2 Million
2024 Cap Space – $120.9 Million
The Patriots make so much sense. They have the money to make this work and we know Bill Belichik wants an alpha wide receiver for Mac Jones badly after striking out on Deandre Hopkins. I am not a Mac Jones believer, but the weapons around him right now are terrible. The offense has been better under Bill O’Brien (who wouldn’t run a better offense than Matt Patricia and Joe Judge?), but the Pats sit at 1-3 and are averaging a putrid 13.75 PPG. If the Pats are going to save Mac Jones’ career and truly believe that he is the guy who can take them on a deep playoff run, getting a premier weapon like Adams is the way to do it. Bill has struggled to win consistently without Tom Brady and I think he may try to make a big splash to change the narrative.
2. Detroit Lions
2023 Cap Space – $7.9 Million
2024 Cap Space – $78.3 Million
I absolutely love this one. The Lions offense is already elite with a top 3 offensive line, great running game, solid quarterback in Jared Goff, and a WR1 in Amon-ra St. Brown. What this team needs are more threats on the outside. The return of Jameson Williams from suspension this week will be a huge boost given his ability to take the top off the defense, which is something this offense lacks. But imagine if they added Adams to the mix as well? This would be the best wide receiver trio in football if Williams lives up to his draft status after being selected 12th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Goff would pick defenses apart behind that offensive line and I think it would give the Lions the opportunity to advance deep into the playoffs in a weak NFC.
1. San Francisco 49ers
2023 Cap Space – $41.1 Million
2024 Cap Space – $17.7 Million
The perk of having a quarterback who was picked last in the draft on a rookie deal is the opportunity to make a splash move for a big-time player. This roster is arguably the most talented in the league as is but adding Adams could make this one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. Adams, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle? My goodness. This team has lost one regular season game since McCaffrey was acquired, and if they were to add Adams, I don’t see them losing anytime soon. They already boast a top five offense and defense in football. This would just be unfair and would clearly put the Niners as Super Bowl favorites. The Niners saw their division rival Los Angeles Rams go all in and add Odell Beckham Jr. midseason, who helped them tremendously down the stretch to a Super Bowl victory. Could they follow a similar blueprint?
