The Las Vegas Raiders’ optimism following their Week 4 victory over the Cleveland Browns has quickly faded. Star wide receiver Davante Adams has requested a trade, and indications suggest the team may be open to fulfilling that request.
Interest in Adams will likely be high across the NFL, but according to an October 1 X post from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders are seeking a second-round pick and additional compensation. This asking price will primarily attract contending teams.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report proposed a trade that would send Adams to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for quarterback Trey Lance and a conditional second-round pick.
“In this hypothetical scenario, the criteria for converting a conditional second-round pick into a first might be considerable,” Ballentine wrote in an October 1 column. “Dallas has demonstrated its ability to reach the playoffs. Securing Multiple postseason victories is now the aim—making an appearance in the NFC title game a reasonable condition for the first-round upgrade.
“To enhance the deal, Dallas could also include third-string quarterback Trey Lance.”
For the Raiders, the Cowboys represent a fitting trade partner, as they would be moving Adams out of the AFC. However, Lance doesn’t significantly boost the offer since he has yet to prove himself as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Will the Raiders Actually Trade Davante Adams?
At this juncture, the Raiders have little incentive to retain Adams. Even if they manage to snag a wild card playoff spot, they’re not in Super Bowl contention with Gardner Minshew at quarterback. Furthermore, Adams’ salary cap hit is set to rise to $44.1 million next season, suggesting that the Raiders were likely to part ways with him after this season anyway.
If they postpone trading him until the offseason, his value could diminish. In fact, the longer they wait, the lower his value may drop. The Raiders should be highly motivated to strike a deal swiftly. Adams, a player who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in consecutive seasons, could become a distraction on a young rebuilding team that doesn’t require a 32-year-old wide receiver, especially with his birthday coming up in December.
A Failed Experiment
When the Raiders acquired Adams in the 2022 offseason, they were coming off a playoff appearance and had just hired Josh McDaniels as head coach. Quarterback Derek Carr had just enjoyed a strong season, and the expectation was that reuniting him with Adams would yield success.
That expectation did not materialize. The Raiders managed only six wins in Adams’ first season, leading the team to release Carr. They opted to sign Jimmy Garoppolo as the starting quarterback, a move that proved disastrous.
Las Vegas could only achieve eight wins last season. This season hasn’t started any better, as the team is currently 2-2 and recently suffered a blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers. Notably, Adams did not play against the Browns in Week 4, yet the Raiders secured a victory, indicating they can win without him. This has been a failed experiment from the outset, and it’s in the best interest of the Raiders to cut their losses now.
