Antonio Pierce ‘business decision’ rant sparks Davante Adams trade speculation

What a difference a week makes.

The Raiders followed up a feel-good win over the Ravens with an embarrassing defeat to the Panthers that had head coach Antonio Pierce promising changes.

The first-year head coach criticized some of his players for the sorry effort, losing 36-22 to a previously winless Panthers team.

“No, they didn’t [show up],” Pierce said after a reporter asked if the team showed up.

“As the game went on, there were some individuals that made business decisions, so we’ll make business decisions going forward as well.”

The Raiders defense made Andy Dalton, who was named the starter this week after two dreadful Bryce Young performances, the third-best passer in QBR (86.9) in Week 3.

It’s hard to be certain which players Pierce was referring to, but the body language of star receiver Davante Adams, who looked disgusted at halftime, certainly left much to be desired.

“I feel like, I don’t know, this is tough for me to identify that. I’m not sure,” Adams said when asked about Pierce’s comment, according to ESPN.

Adams sat on the bench as his teammates filed to the locker room trailing 21-7 and in search of answers during the horrific performance.

It is unlikely Adams will be on the team next year thanks to an out in his contract that could free Las Vegas from a $44.1 million cap hit, highest among all non-QBs in 2025.

Adams would have loads of suitors for the Raiders to choose from and he would surely net a draft choice worthy of a trade.

The Jets, considering his longstanding relationship with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, could be among potential trade suitors with the Chiefs and Saints also possibilities.

Adams was seen ripping the team’s former quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on the Netflix doc “Receiver” and hinted he had a role in the decision to bench the veteran quarterback last season.

Gardner Minshew is the starter this year in Las Vegas and Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown during the team’s 1-2 start.

Adams was just the fourth-leading receiver on Sunday despite garnering a team-high nine targets from Minshew.