With the team likely not contending for anything of consequence this year, the Las Vegas Raiders apparently have decided to cut ties with highly-priced veteran receiver Davante Adams.
The two parties have had some issues throughout his tenure. Most recently, head coach Antonio Pierce allegedly ‘liked’ an Instagram post centered around whether Adams had played his final game with the franchise. When asked about it, Adams said he had not spoken to anyone from the franchise in the wake of that “like”. The post was reportedly “unliked” in the wake of the news.
In a clear rebuild, the Raiders are likely making the smart move by being willing to move Adams for some sort of asset. Some believe a second-round pick would be the baseline level of compensation for the 31-year-old. On Wednesday morning, noted NFL pundit Adam Schefter reported that Adams would prefer one of two destinations: The New York Jets and the New Orleans Saints.
The link to the Jets is the worst-kept secret in the NFL. Adams had the best years of his career in Green Bay catching passes from current Jets signal-caller Aaron Rodgers. The Jets desperately need another receiver opposite Garrett Wilson, and the thought is that Rodgers would immensely welcome a receiver he trusts more than anyone.
The link to New Orleans is a mild surprise. The Saints’ offense has been explosive at times thus far despite not possessing what anyone would call a true No. 1 receiver. Adams would immediately bring credibility and pop to a decent room featuring Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Similar to Rodgers, Adams also has a strong link to New Orleans QB Derek Carr. The two were teammates at Fresno State together, and then later played with one another on the Raiders.
New Orleans is in a wide-open NFC South Division. Between the Saints, Buccaneers, and Falcons, any of those teams could win the division. Nabbing Adams could vault the Saints over their two divisional competitors. Approaching his 32nd birthday, Adams is in the third year of a five-year deal worth $140 million. He does have an opt-out clause after this year. However, he also is scheduled to make a base salary of more than $35 million in 2025 and 2026.
