Davante Adams has been rumored to be traded from the Raiders to several teams, including AFC title contenders such as the Chiefs, Ravens and Bills. But he would prefer to end up back with one of his former NFL quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr.
Although Rodgers' Jets have dominated headlines in their potential pursuit of Adams, Carr's Saints have reportedly taken the lead in terms of putting together an offer to acquire the star receiver.
New Orleans has been "the most aggressive team" in seeking out Adams' services, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Raiders can expect no higher than a second-round draft pick despite giving up a first- and second-rounder to land Adams from the Packers in the 2022 offseason.
Two-plus years after that trade, here's looking at why the Saints are the front-runners to get the 31-year-old six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver:
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Davante Adams-Derek Carr relationship
The whole reason Adams agreed to leave the Packers for the Raiders was to go from Rodgers to Carr, his good long-time friend and college QB from Fresno State. Adams and Carr played just season together in Las Vegas under offensive-minded coach Josh McDaniels in 2022.
McDaniels, however, wanted to move on from Carr ahead of the 2023 season, with the team taking a shot on former Patriots and 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo instead. The Raiders released Carr, who signed a four-year, $150 deal with the Saints.
McDaniels and Garoppolo didn't last long. McDaniels was fired at midseason, and the team benched Garoppolo, who left in the offseason. Losing Carr and dealing with that situation added tension as Adams got used to new coach Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco.
The Raiders haven't been competitive since Adams joined. Transitioning from Garoppolo to 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell and journeyman backup Gardner Minshew at QB hasn't worked. Adams didn't ask for that uncertainty and wants another real chance to play with Carr as professionals.
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Why the Saints should trade for Davante Adams?
Opportunity knocked, and the Saints need to walk through the door. New Orleans has a fine young No. 1 wide receiver in Chris Olave, and a good speedy deep threat in Rashid Shaheed. But the depth chart gets very thin after that, as it drops to Cedrick Wilson Jr. and others. There are only five wideouts listed, ending with rookies Bub Means and Mason Tipton.
Shaheed can be effective as a field-stretcher out of the slot. Combining Adams and Olave on the outside would give the Saints an even more dynamic offense under Klint Kubiak, and would make the team even harder to defend. Adams would also allow the team to spread the field and open up even better running lanes for Alvin Kamara.
Adams already has chemistry with Carr, and should quickly pick up the concepts of Kubiak's passing game. Adams would be a huge asset for the Saints in an already wideout-loaded NFC South race, where the Buccaneers and Falcons look strong. Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins already have plenty of weapons. Adams can help Carr level up to the other veteran QBs in the division.
Why might the Saints shouldn't deal for Davante Adams?
Adams missed the past two Raiders game with a hamstring injury. The Saints and the other suitors would need some clarity on Adams' health, including whether that ailment is a real, or just a way for Adams to "hold in" before trading for the star receiver.
Also, Adams carries a cap hit of $25.35 million in 2024 with two more years left on his contract. The Saints have around $2.7 million of cap space available, so any deal for Adams would need to come with an immediate restructuring of his contract to make it work.
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Will the Saints trade for Davante Adams?
The Chiefs are in the same division as the Raiders, so they're likely out. For the Ravens, adding Adams might be unnecessary, as the team is unique run-heavy and relies more on its tight ends on offense. The Bills' biggest issues are on defense, not with their transitional wide receiver corps.
Then there's the Jets, who are now 2-3 and look shaky offensively with Rodgers and coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Rodgers is working with former Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard, and trying to improve his chemistry with the team's other weapons, like Garrett Wilson, Tyler Conklin and Mike Williams. Adams can improve the situation for sure, but the Jets are a less appealing spot for Adams in their current state.
The Saints make the most sense. They aren't in the same division or conference as the Raiders, meaning the trade wouldn't come back to hurt the Raiders, even though they're not contenders themselves. The Saints signed Carr to give them a legitimate offense, and he's played well in 2023. If the team wants to capitalize on that, Adams should be in The Big Easy sooner rather than later.
