Davante

Adams

While the Raiders hope to work out an Adams trade soon, Schultz also notes that they “aren’t going to do just any deal” and prefer not to take on any remaining money on Adams’ current contract. The remaining money on Adams’ contract could hold up a potential trade for some teams — specifically the Saints, who have spent the last several years navigating suboptimal cap situations. We’ll see what materializes in the coming days, but it feels like a trade could be coming any day, now.

Per Tom Pelissero, Adams, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, may not return in Week 6 but should be healthy by Week 7. Pelissero also said other teams believe this situation is going to come to a head in the next one to two days. Adams played with Derek Carr in college and then again while on the Raiders after the Packers traded him to Vegas, making it a natural fit for the perenially win-now Saints. The Jets, of course, have interest as well. Their offense hasn’t exactly taken off under Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson’s breakout has been stymied by extra defensive attention plus an uncreative scheme from Nathaniel Hackett. Adding Adams to the mix would reunite him with Aaron Rodgers and could unlock Wilson in the process. The Steelers and Ravens also came up as interested parties.

Adams’ status is unsurprising, given the trade talks currently swirling. Hopefully, this is resolved quickly so fantasy managers can return Adams to starting lineups. The Raiders also ruled out TE Michael Mayer (personal), T Thayer Munford Jr. (knee/ankle), CB Decamerion Richardson (hamstring), RB Zamir White (groin) and S Trey Taylor (knee).

Adams is owed $13.5 million for the remainder of this season. The money owed to him is what’s preventing some teams from being able to trade for him, but the Raiders can help push a deal across the line by agreeing to take on some of the remaining money on Adams’ deal. Adams is reportedly most interested in a trade to the Jets, but is willing to play for other teams, as reported by NFL Networks’ Ian Rapoport. Should the Raiders be willing to eat some of his salary to move him, that could increase their potential of landing the best deal on the market for Adams.

Rapoport points out that the Raiders plan to take the best offer on the table for Adams if they do trade the star receiver. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported earlier that teams around the league believe Adams is “focused on engineering” a trade do the Jets. It’s clear where Adams wants to go, but with other teams reportedly in the mix, we could see a bidding war for one of the league’s premier receivers in the coming days.

The Jets have been a hypothetical trade destination ever since Aaron Rodgers joined them last offseason, and the Raiders shipped Adams’ college BFF, Derek Carr, to the Saints. Bleacher Reports’ Jordan Schultz reported earlier in the week that the Jets are a preferred destination for Adams, who seems unlikely to play another snap for the Raiders. While a trade to the Jets could eventually be in the works, Breer notes that the Bills and Steelers have also inquired about Adams. The Jets feel like the obvious favorite to land Adams given his history with Rodgers, but we’ll see how things unfold with this situation, that remains very wait-and-see. Adams is already expected to miss the Raiders’ Week 5 game against the Broncos with a hamstring injury.

Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, teams having conversations with the Raiders about a trade for Adams “have been informed is hamstring injury is expected to keep him sidelined 1-2 weeks.” She adds that it “is a real injury” and Adams “could be back next week if there are no snags.” After some speculation that Adams and/or the Raiders may be fabricating an injury while attempting to trade the star receiver, it’s no surprise to see the team put any of those questions to rest.

The Jets and Steelers are reportedly interested, to varying extents, in acquiring Adams before the NFL’s trade deadline in Week 9. The Chiefs, having lost Rashee Rice (knee) possibly for the rest of the season, are going to try to get by with Xavier Wothy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Justin Watson as their top three wideouts going forward. Travis Kelce will likely be the focal point of the low-octane Chiefs passing offense.

The Jets, quarterbacked by longtime Adams friend Aaron Rodgers, are also reportedly interested in acquiring the disgruntled receiver. We’re still about a month away from the NFL’s trade deadline, and chatter about Adams leaving Las Vegas for a contending team will continue throughout that time. It’s hard to imagine Adams, supposedly struggling with a hamstring issue, staying with the Raiders. Both sides appear ready to finally move on. Adams landing with the Steelers would tank George Pickens’ target share in the run-first Pittsburgh offense.

Adams has been reported to prefer a trade and Schultz now reports he has been “considering a trade request out of Las Vegas for weeks.” His contract makes a deal possible and with the Raiders not contending any time soon, a trade could be on the horizon. Adams also reportedly has a list of preferred destinations and the Jets are one of them. The Jets notably have Adams’ former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a reunion could be on the horizon.