Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams wants to be traded and has some preferences on where he might want to be traded.
While the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers might be considered Adams’ preferred destination and the favorites to make a move for the Pro Bowl wideout, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that Adams hasn’t ruled out other possibilities. In fact, there’s another quarterback Adams previously played with who could be among the stronger alternatives if the Jets don’t work out.
Adams and Saints signal-caller Derek Carr played together at Fresno State, and they paired up again with the Raiders in 2022. Carr was asked Thursday whether he and Adams have spoken this week and whether there might be a third reunion possible — this time in New Orleans.
Adams and Carr have remained close, and Carr said he has spoken to Adams, but not about business.
“Me and Tae, we always talk,” Carr said. “I know it’s funny we’re talking this week. But nothing crazy.”
No trade is expected this week, according Rapoport, but discussions have heated up since the news broke that Adams has requested a trade. Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce deflected on the speculation, only saying that Adams was dealing with a hamstring injury after missing last week’s game. Adams is not expected to play Sunday against the Broncos, per Rapoport.
Carr said he wouldn’t divulge the details of why Adams’ feelings on his situation in Las Vegas.
“That’s all his business,” Carr said. “Just as a man, I would let him talk about all his stuff. He’s a friend. He knows I love him, and I’m always here for him way beyond football. But like to speak for him, I would never do that.”
Wanting to be careful not to break any of the league’s tampering rules, Carr nonetheless said he would welcome reuniting with his former teammate again.
“I think all 32 quarterbacks would love to play with Davante. We would welcome that,” Carr said. “I don’t know if I’d get in trouble for saying that. I think it’s just (that) everyone kind of knows that.”
If Adams is bent on reconnecting with one of his former quarterbacks on his next team, Rodgers certainly makes a lot of sense. Adams was drafted by Green Bay and spent his first eight NFL seasons there with Rodgers, catching 669 passes for 8,121 yards and 73 TD catches in 116 regular-season games.
But Carr and Adams also put up some big numbers together during the 2022 season, with 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns. The latter two numbers were the second-best totals in his career, and his 180 targets from Carr were a career-high for the 6-11 Raiders that season.
“So, we didn’t win as many games as we thought, but it wasn’t all bad. We had fun doing it, that’s for sure,” Carr said. “… I think it was (Adams’) second best year of his career (in 2022 with the Raiders). The narrative that it didn’t work out is correct because we didn’t win as many games. But when it comes to getting him the ball and him scoring a lot of touchdowns, I think it went pretty good.”
Carr said that the trade talk is “stuff so beyond our control sometimes” and that he’s “so focused here” with the Saints, who have lost two straight games after starting the season 2-0. But even so, he’s not going to dissuade the Saints from potentially adding one of the NFL’s elite receivers — who just happens to be his friend.
“I think everyone would love to play with Tae,” Carr said. “I would obviously welcome playing with him again. If that ever worked out in our careers.”
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