After arranging a trade to the Raiders in 2022, Davante Adams’ relationship with the team deteriorated during Derek Carr’s benching, ultimately resulting to Adams’ trade request and departure to the Jets.
His dissatisfaction stems from the Raiders’ lack of a long-term quarterback plan after replacing Carr, Adams’ college teammate at Fresno State, with Jarrett Stidham in 2022. Las Vegas fired Carr and let Stidham depart in free agency over the offseason in favour of an expensive and ailing Jimmy Garoppolo, despite interest from then-head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler in moving up for Bryce Young.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini and Paul Gutierrez, Adams expressed some scepticism about the choice to sign Garoppolo, which was his first hint of unhappiness. He overcame three starting quarterback changes and McDaniels’ midseason firing to achieve his fourth 1,000-yard season in a row in 2023, and he supported interim head coach Antonio Pierce for the Raiders’ full-time position. Adams then hoped to upgrade to a younger quarterback with a bigger ceiling over the offseason, but was disappointed once more when new general manager Tom Telesco signed Gardner Minshew instead. With no apparent long-term strategy for the team’s most crucial position, the 31-year-old Adams sought brighter pastures and officially requested a trade from the Raiders.
- The Raiders were aware of their top receiver’s dissatisfaction, but they were taken aback by the timing of the transaction. The organisation believed Adams’ hamstring was healthy enough to play in Week 5, but instead of declaring himself ready, Adams informed Pierce and Telesco that he wanted a trade.
- When Adams named teams he preferred to play for, the Raiders understood the writing was on the wall and planned for a short- and long-term future without the All-Pro wideout. It was evident that Adams’ hamstring injury would keep him out of action until he could put on a new uniform, so Las Vegas dismissed him before trade discussions began.
- Pierce stated that there was “nothing to talk about” in relation to Adams’ sideline rants, which were featured in Netflix’s “Receiver” documentary series, but his receiver’s profanity-laden outbursts received a lot of attention throughout the league, especially since Adams allowed his comments to air. Adams had to be persuaded to refrain from making even more disparaging remarks about the squad, showing that his displeasure behind the scenes was considerably higher than what was revealed publicly.
- Negotiations between the Jets and Raiders began in early September, with talks picking up momentum as the Jets prepare to visit London in Week 5. With Adams focused on reuniting with Aaron Rodgers, his arrival in New York was only a matter of time.
- Raiders owner Mark Davis had previously indicated a desire to pair Adams with the team’s next long-term quarterback, but he acknowledged that the move was a difficult but necessary decision. “I’ve grown up in this sport,” Davis told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “There are two sides of the building: business and football. “The football side is tough, man.”
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