Sources close to Las Vegas Raiders affirmed that the team won’t trade wide receiver Davante Adams despite him voicing his recent misery with being on the team, ESPN reported.
With the NFL’s trade deadline approaching (Oct. 31), the Raiders declared they weren’t finished with their 30-year-old star receiver even though he hasn’t been content with the Raiders’ recent plays, specifically feeling like offense should utilize him more to improve the team’s victory chances. Ironically, Adams was supposed to be the Raiders offense’s centerpiece.
Although he hasn’t expressed it, many think Adams’ frustration makes him open to a trade. Sources added since last season, many teams have yearned to trade for Adams, and some recently. However, the Raiders and the WR entered a five-year deal in 2022, and [the Raiders] don’t plan to end it.
On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Adams expressed that winning or losing wasn’t his focus, even though it’s an outcome he desires. The 30-year-old wants to feel like he contributed to the game through his capabilities.
“I’m a human being, and I have extremely high standards for myself in this offense,” Adams said. “I’m sure people are thinking, ‘They won the game, why is there an issue?’ I mean, you see why it’s an issue. Y’all should know who I am, know what I’m about at this point … when you’re a player like me, mentally, my benchmark is not wins and losses — it’s greatness.”
He continued, “So when I go out there, I expect to be able to have that ability to put that on tape and have an influence on the game. That’s my purpose for being here. I’m not here just to hang out; I came here to win and to do it the right way.”
Unlike last season, where Adams scored 14 touchdowns, the receiver only has three for this season — two during the Raiders game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and one against the Buffalo Bills.
“So if it don’t look like it’s supposed to look, then I’m going to be frustrated if I’m not a part of that plan,” Adams said. “Because I have the opportunity to go and change that and make it look like a much better picture out there. And if that doesn’t happen, then I’m going to be frustrated. If Jacobi [Meyers] goes out and has a monster game or if the offense is scoring every five plays, like our first drive on the Bills, then it is what it is.”
He concluded, “It’s not about me, but I’m one of the bigger pieces as to why this offense is going to go. And if I’m not getting it, then that’s obviously not according to plan.”
Head coach Josh McDaniels shared Adams’ sentiments, stating the players’ mindsets differ. Players aim to contribute to the win.
“Look, the game is different for them because they’ve achieved a certain status, and they want to contribute every single time that they’re out there as much as they can,” McDaniels said. “So, that’s part of them being them. I would never tell them to squash that. He’s been a great leader, a great influence.”
During the Raiders game against the Cincinnati Bears on Sunday, Oct. 22, which they lost, Adams’ prayers were answered when he received more targets (seven) than the previous games (two against the New England Patriots and four against the Green Bay Packers). Amid the fourth quarter, Adams fumbled an almost touchdown catch.
