Davante Adams Trade Rumors Fly, But The Raiders Have Bigger Problems

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams had some choice words for his own team following a 23-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, and it’s hard to say the situation has improved at all since. With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in concussion protocol Sunday, Las Vegas skidded to 1-3 in a 24-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, exacerbating Adams’ message to reporters that he can’t stand much more.

“I don’t got time to wait around. … It’s not a personal thing,” Adams said after the team’s loss to the Steelers. “I mean it is a personal thing, but it ain’t just about me. It’s not my mentality to sit here and try to take all season to figure it out. You use these early games like this to establish our identity. We’re not doing the things the right way to establish a winning culture early in the season, so we gotta do something to turn that around.”

The star wide receiver’s comments were so strong that media outlets reported several rumors that he would be traded in subsequent days. The Green Bay Packers, his old team where he rose to stardom while working with Aaron Rodgers, were named as a potential suitor. The Dallas Cowboys and Steelers were also listed as interested buyers, while other more hopeful fans salivated over the idea of sending him to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

But beyond the chatter inextricably tied to Adams’ frustration, the Raiders have not said anything one way or another about sending him away. This can be taken as a sign that the team is indeed looking for interested buyers, or it can simply mean that coaches and other personnel have more important things to worry about at the moment.

Between a middling passing game and a below-average running game despite Josh Jacobs’ best efforts, the Raiders have not begun the 2023 season in the cleanest way. Following a gritty win over the Denver Broncos (recent victim of a historic blowout against the Dolphins), Las Vegas was uncompetitive against the Bills and similarly hapless on offense against the Steelers. Against Los Angeles, backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell failed to throw a touchdown to match his lone interception.

The Raiders’ failure to capitalize on vulnerable opponents like Pittsburgh and Los Angeles is damning evidence that the team was not properly prepared at the start of the season. Players are still catching up to speed in a league that does not offer many chances to do so. The Steelers boast an underpowered offense and the Chargers have lost stars Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams to injuries. Neither team has enough star power to match the likes of Adams or Jacobs at key positions. In many ways, they’re doing the best with what they have. The Raiders are evidently doing less.

It makes sense that Adams would grow impatient with a team that promised him playoff contention in 2022 without delivering. With a new quarterback under center and the same result on the field, it is highly logical for him to begin looking at other teams and wondering how he could contribute to their systems. It’s highly likely that these teams are thinking the same thing.