Sources say the Davante Adams trade market is expected to heat up

Trade talks involving Davante Adams are expected to intensify next week as the Las Vegas Raiders star’s hamstring heals and as more teams weigh what they would like to offer for the Pro Bowl wide receiver, league sources told ESPN.

It’s not believed the talks will extend as far as some have indicated, according to sources, but that has to do in part with Adams’ health, as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that will likely sideline him through Week 6, according to the league. sources.

Potential buyout teams are also reluctant to make firm offers knowing the Raiders could use those offers to create a market for Adams. So this market has not warmed up as much going forward, with the November 5 NFL trade deadline approaching.

The Raiders have told interested teams that team owner Mark Davis would not accept anything less than a second-round draft pick in exchange for Adams, along with additional compensation that could be in the form of a draft pick or a player, depending on the league. sources.

The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are the favorites to land Adams, but they aren’t the only teams interested in the three-time All Pro. According to sources, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens are all monitoring Adams’ situation and could be in the mix.

Adams posted a photo of poet Edgar Allen Poe on social media on Friday, leading to speculation that the situation with the Ravens is gaining momentum. But according to sources, there has been no contact between the Raiders and Ravens since early last week.

Right now, Adams seems to be most interested in the Jets and Saints.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has recruited Adams to come to New York, and the wide receiver is interested in reuniting with his former Green Bay Packers teammate.

While the Raiders are adamant about getting a second-round pick for Adams, the Jets are slated to have two third-round picks and two sixth-round picks in 2025. The Jets also have wide receiver Mike Williams, who was drafted in 2017 by the manager General of the Raiders Tom Telesco while Telesco was the general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers and eventually earned a contract extension during their time together in Los Angeles

The Jets have over $17.1 million in salary cap space, but they also have an unresolved pending situation with pass rusher Haason Redick.

Adams also has an interest in joining forces again with Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who he played with in Las Vegas and at Fresno State. Carr spoke openly this week about how much he, or any quarterback, would love to play with Adams.

The Saints have been adept at manipulating the salary cap and will have to make more magic, as they are about $4.6 million under the cap. A potential trade with the Saints could mean the Raiders would pay some of Adams’ salary this season, but Las Vegas has also told teams it doesn’t want to do that, according to sources.

Adams’ salary for this season is $17.5 million, with $13.5 million still owed at the end of the season. While he is under contract for 2025 and 2026, his annual salary jumps to $36.25 million for each of those seasons.

With such a hefty price tag, the trade partner will likely have to convince Adams to agree to a restructured contract.

The Raiders acquired Adams in a blockbuster trade with the Packers for first- and second-round picks in March 2022. Adams agreed to the trade to the Raiders in part in order to reunite with Carr but ended up playing with him for only one year in Las Vegas, as Carr was released from By the Raiders after the 2022 campaign.

Adams played the first eight seasons of his NFL career with Rodgers in Green Bay, during which time the wideout was selected to five Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro twice. Adams was also selected to the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro in his only season with Carr in Las Vegas.