The Las Vegas Raiders want to keep star wide receiver Davante Adams, but unfortunate circumstances could make a trade the most plausible solution for the team later this season. Seth Walder with ESPN wrote the Raiders should pursue a trade with the Buffalo Bills to swap Adams for draft capital.
Davante Adams has an untenable contract
Adams’ contract has been called “untenable”, and the Raiders have to think about what they’re going to do long-term with the offense. Adams is a great player, but given his age (31) it might not make sense to keep him on the team if they have to rebuild in the offseason.
The Las Vegas Raiders should consider trading Adams
Walder suggested the Raiders should try to get a second-round pick from the receiver-needy Bills in exchange for Adams if things go south early this season:
Raiders fans might not like this, and the team itself certainly doesn’t — otherwise, it would have dealt Adams by now. But this exercise is finding trades that make sense for each team involved, and this one satisfies those requirements, despite Las Vegas’ stubborn hold on its WR1.
My lack of belief in the Raiders is a big part of why I think they should make this trade. Perhaps I’ll be proved wrong, but ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gives them a 17% chance to reach the playoffs and less than a 1% chance to reach the Super Bowl, let alone win it.
Adams is 31 years old and due to make only $17.5 million in cash this season. He’ll not only be older next year (and might be showing some initial signs of decline), but he’ll also be scheduled to make $36.25 million at that point. If the Raiders don’t deal Adams before the trade deadline this year, they might never be able to trade him.
The Buffalo Bills are desperate for a WR1
A second-round pick would be huge for a Raiders team that might be thinking about drafting a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft. The capital could give the Raiders young weapons to build around the new quarterback. A second-round pick could be helpful if the Raiders need to trade up to take the quarterback they want.
The Bills would be a perfect trade partner for the Raiders, as quarterback Josh Allen doesn’t have a true No. 1 receiver in Buffalo after Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans this offseason. The only reason the Raiders shouldn’t consider this option is if the Raiders are in playoff contention by the trade deadline.
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