The Las Vegas Raiders faced the Cleveland Browns without their star wide receiver, Davante Adams, for the first time since his arrival with the team in Week 4. Despite this absence, the Raiders managed to secure a victory, but it raises questions about their capability to perform effectively without Adams in the lineup.
In the game, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker stepped up, but they were the only wide receivers to make receptions, highlighting the team’s thin depth at the position. With Adams dealing with a hamstring injury that may keep him sidelined for a while, there are growing calls for the Raiders to bolster their receiving corps. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report suggested that the Raiders should consider trading for Treylon Burks, a wide receiver from the Tennessee Titans.
Ballentine pointed out that the Raiders might be facing a more significant overhaul of their offense than they are willing to acknowledge. He emphasized that Adams’ absence exposed the vulnerabilities in their wide receiver depth. Trading for Burks, he argued, could inject much-needed youth and talent into the squad. Despite being a first-round pick, Burks has struggled to find his footing in the NFL since the Titans selected him, but at only 24 years old, he still possesses the physical attributes that made him a highly sought-after prospect.
Burks had a standout college career at Arkansas, where he was named First-team All-SEC in 2021. However, his transition to the NFL has not been smooth. This season, he has only managed two catches for 11 yards, and last year, he finished with just 221 receiving yards. The Titans’ struggles at the quarterback position have not helped his case, but overall, Burks has not demonstrated the potential expected from a first-round pick.
Given the Raiders’ own challenges at quarterback, some analysts believe that Burks might be a better fit for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs or Los Angeles Chargers, which have elite quarterbacks and are also in need of wide receiver talent. However, Burks could be a low-cost acquisition for the Raiders, possibly obtainable for a fifth-round pick or less.
As for Adams, the Raiders have remained tight-lipped about his recovery timeline. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the injury is expected to keep him out on a week-to-week basis. Adams pulled up during practice, grabbing his hamstring, leading to uncertainty about when he will return.
While the Raiders have shown they can win without Adams, his absence is significant, as he is arguably their best offensive weapon. Hamstring injuries can be tricky, and the team might opt for caution in his recovery. If Adams continues to miss time, it will become increasingly crucial for the Raiders to seek additional help at the wide receiver position to ensure that their passing game does not suffer, especially with Meyers and Tucker being the only reliable options.