As the NFL trade deadline approaches on November 5, all eyes are on the New England Patriots to see if they will make a bold move to bolster their wide receiver corps. The Patriots have already attempted to make a splash, reportedly pursuing San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk, only to see the deal fall through. They’ve also been linked to Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb, but for now, both of those top receivers are staying with their respective teams.
However, that doesn’t mean the Patriots are done shopping for offensive firepower. The latest name to surface in trade rumors is none other than Las Vegas Raiders standout Davante Adams. According to Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, the buzz around an Adams trade has been persistent, and a move could be inevitable before the deadline.
“There was plenty of trade speculation surrounding Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams this summer,” Ballentine wrote. “The buzz grew so loud that Adams’ agent had to come out and say that the rumors were ‘baseless, unfounded speculation’ and noted that Adams is, ‘expected to be with the Raiders.’ That may all be true, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this will be a topic of discussion again before the trade deadline.”
DAVANTE ADAMS BREAKS FREE FOR A TD ON 4TH DOWN🔥
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/ddExvXy7vC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 11, 2022
Patriots in the Mix for Adams?
Though the New York Jets remain the presumed frontrunner to acquire Adams, where he could reunite with former teammate Aaron Rodgers, don’t count out the Patriots as a potential suitor. New England has been surprisingly active in exploring options at wide receiver and could make a play for Adams if they feel the opportunity is right.
With veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett and promising rookie Drake Maye under center, the Patriots may offer a more stable situation than the Raiders, where Adams has voiced frustration with the revolving door at quarterback. His current quarterbacks, Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, haven’t exactly inspired confidence, which could make New England a more attractive landing spot.
Adams is in the third year of a five-year, $140 million contract, but with the Patriots boasting the third-most cap space in the NFL ($37.3 million), money wouldn’t be a barrier to making this blockbuster trade happen.
Adams’ Growing Frustration in Vegas
Despite putting up impressive numbers with the Raiders—Adams tallied over 1,500 receiving yards in his first season with the team and followed up with 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023—he’s clearly been frustrated with the state of the offense. His visible dissatisfaction was captured on the Netflix series “Receiver,” where Adams expressed concern for his safety and career longevity due to repeated hits during games.
“I gotta get the (expletive) outta here before I lose my (expletive) life,” Adams said during a Week 6 matchup against the Patriots, a telling moment that illustrates his frustration.
Will the Raiders Pull the Trigger?
The Raiders may ultimately decide that trading Adams is in their best interest. As Jeff Howe of The Athletic noted, the Raiders are in a rebuilding phase and may not be ready to compete for a playoff spot in the near future. Moving Adams could net them valuable draft assets to secure a franchise quarterback down the line, especially if their season starts off on a rocky note.
For the Patriots, landing a receiver of Adams’ caliber could be the missing piece to elevate their offense and improve their playoff prospects. Whether or not Adams is tempted by New England’s young quarterbacks remains to be seen, but as the deadline looms, stranger things have happened in the NFL.
