News of a Davante Adams trade seemingly signaled the Las Vegas Raiders desire to go all-in for a Super Bowl last year.
This time around, the idea of Adams being dealt might mean another rebuild for the Black and Silver. Although the six-time Pro Bowler remained on the Raiders roster as of publication, his recent comments regarding the organization’s front office — along with longtime friend and veteran quarterback Derek Carr’s release and subsequent decision to join the New Orleans Saints — have raised questions about how long Adams will stay in Las Vegas.
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio recently floated the idea of the Raiders either cutting or trading Adams after June 1, when the cap consequences are easier to manage. Although the Fresno State product will turn 31 in December, he’s fresh off an impressive 100-catch, 1,516-yard, 14-touchdown season that went primarily unnoticed (outside of your fantasy league) amid a dismal Raiders season.
Suffice it to say, Adams should have plenty of suitors if the Raiders make him available. Let’s take a look at which teams need to consider trading for the veteran wideout.
Three Teams That Must Trade for Davante Adams
Buffalo Bills
Florio floated the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants as potential destinations for Adams, and we definitely agree that both teams make perfect sense. However, the Bills are, shall we say, likelier far desperate to add a proven number-one receiver at this stage in the offseason, especially after last season’s disappointing playoff loss to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The duo of Adams and Stefon Diggs would be frightening in a loaded AFC, and rising fourth-year receiver Gabriel Davis has flashed in the past. What more could Josh Allen need to finally end the Bills’ Super Bowl drought?
Let’s also not forget the Bills are slated to open the regular season on Monday, September 11, against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. Of course, Adams and Rodgers go back to the eight seasons they spent together on the Green Bay Packers from 2014-21.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys will almost always be linked to marquee players like Adams so long as Jerry Jones runs the show. Although the Cowboys have reached the playoffs four times in Dak Prescott’s six full seasons as a starting quarterback, Dallas still hasn’t advanced beyond the NFC Divisional Round since Troy Aikman was still throwing touchdowns to Michael Irvin in the mid-1990s.
Could Adams be the missing piece for a Cowboys organization that previously put that label on the likes of Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens? Possibly, but the true question mark remains Prescott, who has a less-than-stellar postseason history. Regardless of how Adams fares with a star on his helmet, the Cowboys will only go as far as their big-money quarterback takes them.
New Orleans Saints
After reuniting in Las Vegas last year, could Adams and Carr — who played together at Fresno State in the early 2010s — try making the third time the charm in New Orleans? The Superdome has quickly become the trendy new home for ex-Raiders, with Carr and veteran tight end Foster Moreau arriving in Louisiana this offseason.
Although Carr became the scapegoat for the Raiders’ dismal 2022 season, he and Adams regularly made magic happen the way they did in college a decade ago. Carr’s benching and subsequent departure had nothing to do with the All-Pro receiver who thrived as the veteran quarterback’s top target.
Carr is unquestionably the best quarterback in his own division for the first time in his career, and the Saints should be considered NFC South favorites as a result. Carr might not be Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts, but he’s certainly better at this stage of his career than Andy Dalton or Baker Mayfield. Carolina Panthers rookie Bryce Young obviously arrived in the NFL with high expectations as the first-overall pick, and the Atlanta Falcons still have faith in second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Put kindly, the Saints would be foolish not to even consider testing the waters on trading for Adams. If there was ever a year for the Saints to seriously contemplate going all-in, now’s the time to do so — even if it means potentially rushing the recent transition period.
Main Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
