The Las Vegas Raiders have seen plenty of ups and downs across their 4-5 start to the NFL season, but they elected to stand pat at the 2023 trade deadline and instead cleaned house on the coaching staff.
Why did the Raiders hang on to wide receiver Davante Adams at the deadline?
Why Did the Raiders Keep Davante Adams?
Adams has been a key contributor in Las Vegas’ receiving corps ever since the franchise acquired him in a March 2022 trade with the Green Bay Packers.
He caught 100 passes for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns last season in an otherwise tough 6-11 campaign for the Raiders. Adams’ production has been down a bit to start the 2023 season with 51 catches for 573 yards and three touchdowns despite turnover at the quarterback position.
It’s been a tough year for Las Vegas, and they entered the trade deadline at 3-5 with the ability to be a seller and potentially acquire some draft capital in exchange for some of its most valuable players — like Adams.
On top of that, Adams voiced his frustration with the Raiders’ lack of success in early October.
“I didn’t really have any expectations,” Adams told ESPN.com. “But it’s not what I wanted, for sure. Obviously, I wanted to come here and have a big impact, continue to play at a high level, and win games. And a lot of those things have happened — just not the winning part. But I’ve just got to continue to do more and keep demanding greatness and consistency for my teammates.
“It’s a gamble sometimes. You never really know.”
All of those factors seemed to make a potential trade of Adams make sense, particularly as Las Vegas moved on from its coaching staff and benched Jimmy Garoppolo. The Raiders ultimately did not move him, however.
Adams later walked back those comments ahead of the trade deadline in saying he does not regret the decision to end up with Las Vegas.
“I am happy to be a Raider, 100%,” Adams said on The Rich Eisen Show on Oct. 27. “This was my choice, and this is something that I’m standing by. I want to continue to work at, to make it what it’s supposed to be. I’m not happy at every moment with the way things go, but I’m definitely proud to wear this uniform. … I’m not looking for a new home.”
With three years remaining on his contract, Las Vegas could see Adams as a piece to continue trying to build around despite its recent struggles. He is certainly still a valuable target for whichever quarterback the team trots out.
Adams is not getting any younger, though, with his 31st birthday right around the corner. Time will tell how long he can remain effective and whether the Raiders are capable of contending before time inevitably catches up with him.
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