NFL Trade Rumors: Raiders’ Davante Adams Linked to Cowboys, Jets, Steelers, Bills

Davante Adams is reportedly drawing interest from multiple teams around the league, including the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported the Jets and Cowboys are among those who are “monitoring” the situation and “checked in with the Raiders.” Russini also noted Las Vegas “is in no rush to make a move.”

NFL insider Josina Anderson then reported the Steelers showed “preliminary interest in at least discussing a potential trade.”

Albert Breer of MMQB noted the Buffalo Bills also inquired about a deal, although he added that Adams is “focused on engineering a trade to the Jets.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter added the New Orleans Saints as a potential landing spot and noted the Kansas City Chiefs are “not expected to be an option.” While Kansas City needs depth at wide receiver following injuries to Rashee Rice and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, it is also a division rival of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The reports come after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that the Raiders wide receiver told the team he wants to be traded. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also added context to the situation Wednesday.

“Here’s what I know about Adams and the Raiders—this has escalated quickly,” Fowler wrote. “When I checked with several people with the team early Tuesday, they were not aware of a trade request or preference. Still, multiple teams had Adams on their trade radar over the past few days.”

The Jets connection is obvious, as Adams previously played with quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers. Trading for him would also give the AFC East team two game-changing wide receivers with Garrett Wilson also on the roster.

Like New York, New Orleans would offer the receiver the opportunity to play with a familiar quarterback in Derek Carr. The pair were teammates in Las Vegas and played together collegiately at Fresno State.

Dallas would also have quite the one-two punch at receiver if it traded for Adams, as CeeDee Lamb is among the best in the league at the position. Opposing defenses likely wouldn’t be able to double both of them, which would give Dak Prescott plenty of opportunities to bolster his passing numbers.

As for Pittsburgh, it could use a reliable option alongside George Pickens. Pickens’ 20 receptions are more than twice that of any other wide receiver on the team with Calvin Austin III checking in with seven.

The Cowboys, Jets, Saints, Steelers or any other team will need to part with some value, though, if they are going to land one of the best receivers in the league.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Raiders told teams they would only “consider” moving Adams if they were offered a second-round pick and additional compensation. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports noted teams would also have to discuss a reworked contract with Adams if they were to trade for him.

The 31-year-old is signed through the 2026 campaign, but his deal features $35.6 million in base salary for each of the 2025 and 2026 seasons. It also has a potential out after this season.

The Adams situation has made plenty of headlines of late, as he didn’t exactly deny he may be leaving Las Vegas during a Tuesday appearance on the Up & Adams show:

What’s more, head coach Antonio Pierce appeared to like a social-media post suggesting the wide receiver might be done with the Raiders:

Regardless of the contract situation, Adams is someone who can elevate the ceiling for a receiver-needy team for the rest of the season.

His resume includes six Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro nods. He also led the league in touchdown receptions in 2020 (18) and again in 2022 (14) and has five seasons with more than 1,100 receiving yards.

Adams missed Las Vegas’ Week 4 victory over the Cleveland Browns because of a hamstring injury, but he was solid in the first three games with 18 catches for 209 yards and one touchdown.

Perhaps his next catch will come for a different team.