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Report: Raiders are ‘open’ to trading WR Davante Adams, urging teams to gauge interest
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Report: Raiders are ‘open’ to trading WR Davante Adams, urging teams to gauge interest

With the trade deadline still more than a month away, it’s doubtful any team will make any big moves, either buying or selling, until just before Halloween. But Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams might be the biggest name on the block.

Despite previous reports that Adams hoped to stay in Las Vegas and the Raiders remained steadfast in their desire to keep him, reporter Vinny Bonsignore says the team is open to trading Adams this season. And they’ve started calling teams to gauge interest.

The second part of this report is the most remarkable. Being open to the idea is one thing. Actively calling out teams to see what interest there is and what teams might give up on Adams is a big step forward. Although there is no connection to the Steelers, they are still one of the teams with the greatest need for wide receivers in football. George Pickens is their only consistent wide receiver threat, and while WR Calvin Austin III has played the last two weeks, he is not the No. 2 WR in this offense.

Davante Adams was one of the most productive wide receivers in the league. Adams moved from the Green Bay Packers to the Raiders before the 2022 season and reunited with his college teammate Derek Carr. He made six Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He has five 1,000-yard seasons in his career and led the NFL in scoring twice.

But his time with the Raiders was difficult as the team sputtered and went through coaching changes, leaving him posting losing records in his first two full years with the team. The Raiders are 2-2 with a big win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, but are not considered true playoff contenders in a tough AFC West.

Davante Adams was sidelined before the Browns game with a hamstring injury and has caught 18 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown this year. He’s 31 years old and has a big contract, but the Steelers could work out the finances. As Dave Bryan notes, there would have to be some restructuring on Pittsburgh’s side to free up enough space, but there is a way.

What kind of trade capital the Raiders would have back is another question. Green Bay received a first- and second-round pick from Las Vegas in 2022, but it’s doubtful Adams would have exactly the same value now.

Adams expressed his frustration before head coach Josh McDaniels was fired at the end of October 2023. While Adams expressed his satisfaction under Antonio Pierce, there could be a new storyline. Apparently, Pierce liked an Instagram post that said Adams may have played his final snap with the Raiders. In an interview with Kay Adams on Tuesday, Adams said he hopes to hear from his head coach.

According to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Davante Adams confirmed that he is aware of the social media post and reports.

“I haven’t spoken to (Antonio Pierce),” Adams said of Simmons to Kay Adams. “So yeah, I don’t really know what it was about. Obviously… social media is a beast, so there are a lot of people out there who saw it and are wondering what’s going on – people who are reaching out. And yes, I haven’t spoken to him.”

Pittsburgh’s offseason focus centered on San Francisco 49ers Brandon Aiyuk, but some analysts speculated that Adams could be a backup option since Mike Tomlin was the type of coach Adams would like to play for.

While there won’t be a decision for weeks, Adams’ name will only continue to circulate in the rumor mill as October progresses. The NFL trade deadline is November 5th at 4:00 p.m. EST and was pushed back a week after the league voted in favor of the Steelers’ proposal earlier this year.

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