It seems like Davante Adams will never play for the Las Vegas Raiders again, even if head coach Antonio Pierce has to say otherwise publicly. But a high asking price, and the uncertain situations of the two teams Adams reportedly most wants to be traded to (New York Jets, New Orleans Saints), has led to things stalling on that trade front.
In his shared league-wide buzz column with colleague Jeremy Fowler heading into Week 5, ESPN's Dan Graziano dropped the Detroit Lions onto his list of potential Adams' suitors with enough cap space to make the move.
"The Jets, Cowboys, Commanders and Lions are among potentially interested teams with enough cap space to trade for Adams now....Adams also has two years left on his contract after this one, with scheduled salaries of $35.64 million in both 2025 and 2026. But none of that money is guaranteed, so there'd be no cap hit for the acquiring team next year if it released him at the end of the season."
NFL insider Josina Anderson subsequently offered an NFC team that wasn't in on Adams at the price of a second-round pick. A contract restructuring of some sort, as Anderson added as a consideration for that team, feels automatic for any team that might acquire Adams. Unless a team is willing to have him as a rental, and he's willing to invite that idea.
NFL analyst offers reasonable take on why the Lions should be in on Davante Adams
Former Pro Football Focus analyst Brad Spielberger joined former colleagues Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo in a segment for The 33rd Team.
Amon-Ra St. Brown + Jameson Williams + Davante Adams?! 😳@SpielbergerBrad explains why he thinks Detroit would be an awesome fit ⬇️@SamMonsonNFL | @StevePalazzolo_ pic.twitter.com/uNdsKQmYEx
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) October 12, 2024
"From that standpoint, of where it's just a one-year flier. You bring him, you chase a ring, and then you say, 'thanks for your services, sayonara', I would love for the Detroit Lions to get in the mix here. They have the cap space, they're top-five in the league right now, in cap space. They obviously did already spend a ton of money this offseason...but if they're willing to make one more move. I love what we've seen from Jameson Williams, his continued growth in this offense. Obviously, you have Amon-Ra St. Brown, but beyond that there really isn't much. I think if you bring Davante Adams in, you should be the favorite in the NFC, by a comfortable margin."
-Brad Spielberger
The easy caveat here is the Lions might become the clear favorite in the NFC without Adams, by a comfortable margin or not. So why give up a Day 2 draft pick to get him? Saying "there really isn't much" beyond Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown also feels like a slight to the emerging Tim Patrick, but Adams is undeniably a talent upgrade.
Spielberger's overall point stands about the Lions and Adams. It also backups what Graziano reported previously in terms of the Lions' being a possible suitor, with the idea an acquiring team doesn't have to commit to Adams beyond this season. The expected trade cost seems to mandate the team that acquires him reworking his contract to keep him beyond this season, but it wouldn't be absolutely mandatory.
Is Adams likely to become a Detroit Lion? It still feels like no, but until the Nov. 5 trade deadline has come and gone (or Adams is traded elsewhere) it's "never say never."