Davante Adams’s future with the Raiders is still up in the air. The veteran has been absent from the last two games due to his hamstring injury and requested a trade-off almost two weeks ago. This has led to speculation about his next destination with HC Antonio Pierce maintaining that Adams “is a Raider” and will play when he is healthy. So is this sheer optimism from Pierce or is he just bluffing in an attempt to drive the WR’s value?

The Raiders do face a tricky situation with Adams. His salary is set to go up to $35.64 million in 2025 and the current season will be his last with the team unless he decides to take a pay cut next year. If the Raiders release him, they get no compensatory draft pick. Trade is the only option for them to salvage something from the situation.

This could be why former NFL player and GM Michael Lombardi thinks Antonio Pierce’s words are mere “propaganda,” to inflate the receiver’s value before the team trades him off. It seems plausible because Adams is still on the Raiders payroll. Per Lombardi, the Raiders are keeping him because they don’t want a bad deal.

“That’s just propaganda,” Lombardi said about Antonio Pierce’s remarks. “He’s [Pierce] is trying to tell the teams that are interested that ‘we’re going to keep him instead of trading him.’ They have to increase their position of strength in a negotiation so that’s just sheer propaganda. There’s not one word of there you believe. The kid said he’s not playing anymore there.”

Traditionally a trade request means the compensation decreases because the entire league is aware. The Raiders want a second-round pick plus additional compensation for the WR and they also don’t want to pay any of Adams’s salary according to ESPN. His $11.6 million salary and age (32 years in December) could be seen as key reasons why the Raiders would want a trade.

The former GM further mentioned on The VSiN Morning Line, “The fact that he’s there you know if you can’t trade him they’re just trying to strengthen their position and make people think that instead of taking a bad deal they’re going to keep him on the team.”

Vegas showing the intention, at least on the face of it, to keep hold of their star man in case their demands are not met, could create urgency in the teams. There are still four rounds of football to be played until the trade deadline arrives and it remains a possibility that a team could be forced into a trade if there is an injury situation on their side.

For Vegas, trading Adams, whom they pay $983,333 per week, makes all the sense in the world. But Pierce’s words and the stance of the Raiders suggest they won’t budge easily. Talking to the media before the game against the Steelers, the HC said, “He’s still a Raider. He’s never not been a Raider. He’s still a Raider. When he’s healthy and he can play, we’ll play him. He’s just not healthy right now. He’s getting closer though, that’s the good part.”

Moreover, there are reports that a reason behind Adams’s possible change of heart could be Aidan O’Connell. The QB was named the starter for the Raiders in Week 6 and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Adams is a big believer in O’Connell.” 

“Playing with O’Connell is said to be appealing to Adams, who will sit out his third straight game Sunday because of a hamstring injury,” Schefter mentioned.

Adams is under contract for the next two years through 2026 for $72.5 million. It’s $36.25 million for both 2025 and 2026 consisting of a $35.64 million base salary, $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses, and a $100,000 workout bonus. That seems a lot of money to pay for someone who apparently doesn’t want to be on the team. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones also reported that Pierce’s words sound like he is trying to save a desperate situation.

A source told Jones, “Feels a bit like Vegas is trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube to salvage Davante’s market. I think everyone knows their only play is to deal him.”

Raiders might be in a tricky position, but either they are putting on a brave face or they have somehow managed to convince Adams to put the drama behind him, get healthy, and help them have a good season. But a trade request usually means the player is all set to try his out luck somewhere else.

So what are Adams’s possible destinations in case a trade goes through?

Potential landing spots for Davante Adams

Tashan Reed of The Athletic suggested that there are four plausible landing spots for Davante Adams: The New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Buffalo Bills. Make no mistake, the Jets scratching Robert Saleh’s name from their payroll doesn’t mean they are not eyeing the 6x Pro Bowler. They still want him alongside Aaron Rodgers.

There’s a problem with Adams going to the Saints because his friend Derek Carr has suffered an oblique injury and is unlikely to return anytime soon. On the other hand, news broke out some time ago that the Steelers were aggressively pursuing Adams. Let’s be honest, George Pickens’ reps have dropped significantly and he’s not exactly in people’s good books after the Cowboys game. But regardless of that, the Steelers are in need of a veteran WR.

This leaves us with the Buffalo Bills. Out of all these teams, the Buffalo Bills give a realistic chance to Davante Adams to go on a playoff run. The Super Bowl, though, is a different story. But at least he’ll have a high-caliber QB in Josh Allen. He might eye the Buffalo Bills over the New York Jets just because the NY team is utterly dysfunctional.

Well, it’s not long before November 5 comes but before that, we’re eager to see if the WR gets back on the field as a Raider. Do you think Adams will stay with the Raiders following the trade deadline? Or will we see him don a new jersey next month?