GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 16: Head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets looks on against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 16, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
During a recent appearance on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast hosted by Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, Las Vegas Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams addressed the persistent trade rumors linking him to the New York Jets. Despite the speculation, Adams made it clear that he is committed to the Raiders for the upcoming season.
“I’m actively on the Raiders,” Adams told Sharpe, as reported by Justin Tasch of the New York Post. “I’m locked in with the Raiders and I really feel good about this team, and as far as I know, they feel good about me. If that ever changes, if that got to a point where they weren’t feeling the same way, I ain’t done playing, so obviously we would figure out whatever we needed to figure out.”
The trade rumors gained traction after Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers expressed his excitement about the possibility of reuniting with Adams. The two were teammates on the Green Bay Packers from 2014 through the 2021 season, forming one of the league’s most formidable quarterback-receiver duos. Former Jets quarterback and current NFL analyst Boomer Esiason fueled the rumors by suggesting multiple times that Adams could join the Jets for the 2024 season.
Adams, who joined the Raiders in March 2022 after agreeing to a five-year, $141.25 million contract, acknowledged the allure of playing with Rodgers again. “The thought of playing with Aaron is obviously amazing,” Adams admitted during the podcast. However, he emphasized his readiness to remain an elite receiver regardless of who is throwing him the ball, whether it’s 2023 fourth-round draft pick Aidan O’Connell or journeyman Gardner Minshew.
“I’m not afraid to say that he definitely made me better, but he definitely didn’t create me,” Adams said about Rodgers. “I didn’t ‘need’ him, but it makes life a hell of a lot easier, that’s for sure.”
Adams’ agents also weighed in, stating unequivocally that their client is expected to stay with the Raiders and that there has been “absolutely no trade talk” regarding his services. Despite Esiason’s comments, there has been no public indication that the Raiders are planning to trade Adams before their regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 8.
As the rumors continue to swirl, Adams remains focused on proving his worth with the Raiders and leading the team to success in the upcoming season.
