Texans Trade 'Fate'? Davante Adams Not 'Seeing Eye-to-Eye' With Raiders
As much as any team and any fan base in the NFL, the Houston Texans understand how this works: A player-vs.-management molehill becomes a mountain. There are whispers, then leaks, then open remarks about disgruntlement.
It's how DeAndre Hopkins exited Houston. Could it also be how Davante Adams exits the Las Vegas Raiders - and how the Texans get their groove back at wideout?
The Raiders gave up a first and second-round pick to acquire from the Packers in 2022, with the All-Pro wideout elated to join best pal Derek Carr. But Vegas has dumped Carr and replaced him with Jimmy Garoppolo. And now Adams is suggesting he's "trying to be as optimistic as possible ... It’s not what I expected to happen, but it’s something that’s the reality now.”
Adams said he doesn’t “see eye to eye” with the Raiders front office on what is best for the team. And ... so it begins?
First, to the Vegas side of any trade gossip: They made their massive trade commitment to arguably the NFL's best receiver. He's got $43 million of owner Mark Davis' cash in his pocket. (And Davis does not often throw around huge checks like that.) And they'd have to eat $31 million in dead money.
Oh, and one more thing: Adams and Jimmy G are, in the eyes of Las Vegas, foundational pieces of a playoff contender. Why not try to smooth things over with Adams?
Now to the Texans side: His salary essentially makes him a $20 million APY receiver. No problem there. (Houston, like any other team, can create the cap space if it wishes.) He's 30. No problem there. And he gets you 1,300-yard seasons and first-team All-Pro honors annually. Is he a match with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud?
Just for fun here ... Stroud happens to have expressed preemptive admiration of the idea.
The Raiders taking a first-round pick trade would've been a much more attractive idea to them, oh, about three weeks ago, than it is now. Vegas trades him now, for whatever bonanza, and they have to wait a year for the payoff.
That's a reason for Vegas to hold steady. But we would like to eliminate a supposed reason for Houston to not bother: "Aw, the Texans aren't good enough, aren't close enough, to make a monster move worth it.''
Hey, this franchise has earned its fan base skepticism. But the AFC South is winnable. The league is designed for turnarounds to be doable. And after the DeAndre Debacle? Maybe a Davante Delight is deserved.
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