Matt Johnson
Davante Adams went to the Las Vegas Raiders specifically to play with quarterback Derek Carr and be on a competitive team closer to his family. With Carr in Louisiana and the Raiders now one of the worst teams in football, there’s still time for Las Vegas to move him ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
While Adams specifically chose the Raiders’ organization, fulfilling his dream, expectations haven’t been met. The future Hall of Famer earned All-Pro honors last season with Carr under center, but his 2023 season has been a massive disappointment and a source of weekly frustration.
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On Monday Night Football, Raiders’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed just 1-of-7 targets in Adams’ direction. Of the six misses, it included Adams running wide-open for a would-be touchdown that Garoppolo whiffed on. After the loss, Adams’ frustration was evident.
“Honestly, I don’t know what to say at this moment. I truly don’t. I wish I had the words to say something that’s not going to get blown up in the media and taken out of context. Truly, I just don’t know.”
Davante Adams after Las Vegas Raiders loss on Monday Night Football
- Davante Adams contract: $14.7 million cap hit (2024), $25.23 million cap hit (2025), $44.1 million cap hit (2025) and $44.1 million cap hit (2026. Can be cut in 2025 offseason for $28.4M cap savings
While Adams has wanted to remain loyal to the original commitment made to Las Vegas, circumstances have changed. He turns 31 in December and with the Raiders not close to contention, moving him to a better situation is the right thing for this franchise to do. With that in mind, here are four trade landing spots that would be a perfect fit for Davante Adams.
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4 best NFL team fits for Davante Adams
Adams’ frustration with Las Vegas isn’t just centered on the lack of wins. While he’s one of the most competitive wide receivers in the NFL, Josh McDaniels’ offense has also poorly utilized the All-Pro offensive weapon this year.
- Davante Adams stats 2023: 47 receptions, 539 receiving yards, 11.5 ypr, 3 touchdowns on 78 targets
Entering NFL games today, Adams has totaled just 10 receptions for 97 receiving yards with zero touchdowns on 24 targets. In comparison, A.J. Brown has drawn 40 targets for 31 receptions and 525 receiving yards over that span while Puka Nacua has turned 37 targets into 294 receiving yards in the last four games.
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- Detroit Lions: The Lions’ offense already has an All-Pro slot receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown and the tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs creates one of the best run games in the NFL. However, Jameson Williams is still struggling in his career and Josh Reynolds is more of a No. 3 receiver. Adams would put Detroit over the top. While the Lions’ defense might have bigger issues to fix, specifically at cornerback and edge rusher, scoring more points takes the pressure off the defense. Adams would thrive in Ben Johnson’s offense, operating on the outside with defensive backs needing to pay significant attention to him. That opens up the middle of the field for St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. Plus, with defenses putting two safeties deep, the Lions’ run game gets even better.
- Dallas Cowboys: The latest buzz out of Texas suggests the Dallas Cowboys will be quiet at the NFL trade deadline. However, it’s worth making a call to the Las Vegas Raiders. CeeDee Lamb has proven he can be a premium offensive weapon, but he also spends the majority of the time (230 snaps) in the slot. Adams would take the outside, drawing double-teams and leaving a lot of open space for Lamb and Jake Ferguson. Plus, the All-Pro wideout could help address that has the fourth-lowest touchdown rate in the red zone (40.74%) this season. The Cowboys are operating with a tight window as contenders and Adams would easily put this team back in the mix to win the Lombardi Trophy.
- Baltimore Ravens: The Baltimore Ravens already have the best NFL defense in 2023. Not only that, but there’s also a strong argument for Lamar Jackson to win NFL MVP. However, Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t lived up to his contract and Rashod Bateman isn’t reliable enough for Jackson or Todd Monken to incorporate more into the offense. Adams would immediately become the so-called “Alpha” receiver in Baltimore, turning an inconsistent offense that has been plagued by drops into the best NFL team.
- Buffalo Bills: It’s now or never for the Buffalo Bills. A Jaylon Johnson trade would address a far bigger need, but it’s also possible Buffalo doesn’t find deals for the defensive upgrades it needs. In that instance, the next best step is creating the most lethal passing attack in the league. With Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs on the outside, NFL defenses would no longer be able to use bracket coverage on Diggs in the playoffs. The Bills might need to score 30-plus points per game to reach the Super Bowl and an offense with Josh Allen, Dalton Kincaid, Diggs and Adams would do just that.
