Davante Adams has consistently affirmed his satisfaction with being a Raider, which is quite remarkable given the frequent struggles associated with the team. If Adams genuinely feels content in Las Vegas, that’s certainly a positive development for him. However, his situation also serves as a prime example of why acquiring and retaining a high-profile player can sometimes be a misstep.
Adams has been everything the Raiders hoped for when they traded for him two years ago. He has maintained his status as a top-tier, healthy, and consistent All-Pro player. Yet, talent acquisition in the NFL involves more than just bringing in standout players. It requires careful consideration of cost, fit, and timing.
When the Raiders acquired Adams, they gave up their first- and second-round draft picks for the 2022 draft and signed him to a lucrative five-year contract extension worth $28 million per year, a sum reflective of top-of-the-market pay. At the time, this seemed justifiable given Adams’s proven abilities. However, Adams was already 29 years old, which meant that the investment was more suited for a team on the brink of a Super Bowl run, not for a team still in the midst of rebuilding.
The Raiders had finished the 2021 season with a 10–7 record but were outscored by 65 points over the course of the season and had one of the NFL’s weakest defenses. This context made the timing of the deal questionable. The significant cost of acquiring Adams, including sacrificing their top two draft picks, severely limited the Raiders’ ability to make other improvements and strengthen their roster immediately.
Since the trade, the Raiders have posted a record of 14–20. Now, Adams is 31 years old, and the team is starting Gardner Minshew II at quarterback—often considered a temporary solution rather than a long-term answer. The Raiders also have a new head coach, Antonio Pierce, and a new general manager, Tom Telesco. This situation might call for a strategic reevaluation, including potentially trading Adams to accumulate valuable assets. Yet, Adams remains with the team.
The rationale behind keeping Adams, despite the changing dynamics, is not immediately clear. There are likely internal factors at play that are not visible to the public. However, the external factors present a straightforward narrative.
Two years ago, Raiders owner Mark Davis made a typical move for him: he made a splashy acquisition in the hopes of turning the team around. He brought in Josh McDaniels and his preferred general manager, Dave Ziegler, and handed them significant control. McDaniels, known for his contentious history, had left a mark on both the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts, leading to his reputation for creating friction.
McDaniels saw the opportunity to work with Adams, who wanted to join the Raiders to play alongside his former college quarterback, Derek Carr. This combination seemed advantageous both for McDaniels, who hoped to solidify relationships with key players, and for Davis, who took pride in making high-profile acquisitions. Davis’s enthusiasm for star players, evident in previous hires like Jon Gruden and investments in other sports teams, likely influenced the decision.
However, McDaniels’s relationship with Carr deteriorated, and Davis’s dissatisfaction with McDaniels led to a costly dismissal. Now with Pierce and Telesco at the helm, there is an opportunity to reset and focus on rebuilding the team. This process should logically include trading Adams to gather draft picks and future assets.
Despite the ongoing changes, Davis’s history suggests a pattern of firing coaches quickly and pursuing big names, often at significant cost. Since taking control of the Raiders in 2011, Davis has fired five full-time head coaches, with only Jon Gruden completing a fourth year. Davis’s tendency to seek high-profile solutions, even when it might not be prudent, influences decisions like keeping Adams on the roster.
Adams remains an excellent player and is expected to have another strong season. However, as he approaches the age of 32, it’s challenging to envision a scenario where the Raiders are genuine Super Bowl contenders with him as a centerpiece. If the team continues to hold onto him, his tenure with the Raiders will likely be remembered as a case of acquiring the right player but making the wrong moves at crucial junctures.