While GM proclamations about trades involving marquee players have led to course reversals before, new Raiders front-office boss Tom Telesco did make a notable effort to insist Davante Adams will not be going anywhere this year.
When asked if the oft-rumored trade chip could be available this year, Telesco responded with “He’s a Raider.”
Adams had recently expressed excitement about returning for a third season in Las Vegas, but after a run as the No. 1 receiver for playoff-bound teams in Green Bay, the past two years have brought a step out of the spotlight — and more rumors about a potential departure.
Adams was among the players to stump for Antonio Pierce this year. Although neither Pierce nor Telesco were in their current roles when the Raiders traded first- and second-round picks for Adams, it certainly appears the new regime wants to keep the All-Pro target in place as the team’s top wide receiver.
The Jets came up as an Adams suitor at multiple junctures. The AFC East team contacted the Raiders about acquiring Adams, Mike Evans or Tee Higgins.
None of the inquiries gained much traction, but a December report indicated the Jets had been monitoring Adams since they traded for Aaron Rodgers.
The two, of course, played eight seasons together in Green Bay. Rodgers said he attempted to convince Adams to stay with the Packers in 2022, but the latter moved to reunite with college teammate and longtime friend Derek Carr.
That partnership lasted one year, with the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime cutting Carr. Adams stayed in Vegas but expressed frustration during the final weeks of the McDaniels period.
While seemingly more content with the Raiders’ setup under Pierce, Adams still saw his numbers drop from 2022. After a 1,516-yard Raiders debut that featured an NFL-high 14 touchdown catches, Adams totaled 1,144 yards and eight TDs in 2023.
With the team in dire need of a quarterback upgrade — a situation Pierce has made no secret of — Adams is an expensive receiver on a team in transition. Adams will, however, be reuniting with ex-Packers assistant Luke Getsy in 2024.
“Open-mindedness and, like I said, that innovation to the offense and a good run-pass balance,” Adams said (via Gutierrez) of Getsy earlier this month. “And that’s what I’m used to, that West Coast style. Going to be fun getting to work on a new system, [yet] something that’s a little bit more familiar.”
It is unclear who will be targeting Adams next season, but Telesco — like Bengals executive Duke Tobin did regarding Higgins at last year’s NFL Combine — is providing a firm indication the accomplished wideout is in the Raiders’ plans for the upcoming season.
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