Whether the New England Patriots make a significant move at wide receiver before the NFL trade deadline on November 5th is still to be determined.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers was courted by New England, but he decided to stay in San Francisco. When Pats head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned a potential trade for Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb, it also caused some eyebrows to raise. Although Aiyuk and Lamb are sticking put, New England still has the option to recruit a more seasoned wide receiver. Let’s introduce Davante Adams.
Before the 2024 regular season began, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine made some wild trade predictions, and he feels that a move for Adams is a given.
Ballentine noted on August 31 that “there was plenty of trade speculation surrounding Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams this summer.”
Adam’s representative had to publicly denounce the allegations as “baseless, unfounded speculation” and clarify that Adams is “expected to be with the Raiders” as a result of the intense media attention. All of that may be the case, but it’s difficult to escape the impression that this will come up for conversation once again before the trade deadline.
Patriots Might Be a Cunning Trade Candidate for Wide Receiver Adams Davante.
DAVANTE ADAMS BREAKS FREE FOR A TD ON 4TH DOWN🔥
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/ddExvXy7vC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 11, 2022
There has been a lot of talk about a possible deal that may send Adams to the New York Jets, where he would play quarterback with Aaron Rodgers again. Even while the Jets are still the overwhelming favorite, other teams frequently catch up. At the very least, the Pats might try to sign the two-time All-Pro.
Adams would view New England’s quarterbacks—Jacoby Brissett, a seasoned pro, and promising rookie Drake Maye—as a major improvement over Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, his present signal-callers.
Adams signed a five-year, $140 million contract with the Raiders in March 2022; he is in the final year of the agreement. According to Over the Cap, New England presently has the third-most salary cap space of any team in the league with $37.3 million. The Patriots wouldn’t let money stand in their way.
“The Raiders would clear $17.5 million by trading the 31-year-old, but he still has two years left on his contract, and there isn’t much guaranteed money in those final two years,” Ballentine said. “It’s not surprising if trade rumors involving Adams become popular once more during the season.”
Adams, a Raiders player, has expressed frustration.
Adams recorded more than 1,500 receiving yards in 2022, his rookie campaign with the Raiders. In 17 games in 2023, he finished with 103 receptions for 1,144 yards and 8 touchdowns. Adams has been openly irritated by the dearth of offensive skill surrounding him, especially at quarterback, even though he has been playing well in Vegas.
Adams displayed signs of frustration on the Netflix series “Receiver” on several occasions. There was one really telling snippet:
“I need to leave this place before I lose my life,” he remarked before the Raiders’ Week 6 encounter with the Patriots. “In my career, I have never been hit this many (expletive) times.”
Not just Ballentine thinks that Adams will be dealt shortly.
The Raiders aren’t held in high regard by the league. Some in the league are speculating whether the Raiders might transfer receiver Davante Adams at the trade deadline, barring an incredibly great start, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic on September 2.
“To find a franchise quarterback, they need to maximize their draft assets, and the 31-year-old Adams isn’t likely to be here when the Raiders are ready to push for the playoffs.”
Maye is perhaps the Patriots’ franchise player. Would he be sufficient to persuade Adams to visit New England? Stranger things have happened, but probably not.
