Davante Adams would welcome the return of passing from Aaron Rodgers, but insists he’s happy with the Raiders and won’t push for a trade to the Jets.
Adams addressed the trade rumors in the latest episode. Shannon Sharp’s “Club Shay Shay” Podcast The news, released Wednesday, comes a day after the wide receiver’s agent released a statement denying trade talks.
“Well, I’ll answer this question: If I were to reunite with anyone, it would be Aaron. Or I’d move on and be with Aaron wherever he is,” Adams said. “But that’s not my thing. There was a lot of that in the media last year, and they were like, ‘What are you going to do about it? Are you going to go here?’ And they were just talking about whatever they had without me even getting involved.
“And eventually I got to the locker room and people thought I was the driving force, and I was like, ‘You guys just don’t get it, man.’ When you – and I hate to say it, because it sounds like I’m putting myself on a pedestal – but when you’re a certain level of player, it doesn’t have to come from you, and often times it doesn’t.”
The 31-year-old, six-time Pro Bowler wants nothing more than to commit to the Raiders, who had an 8-9 season but went 5-4 under Antonio Pierce before being promoted from interim head coach to permanent head coach.
“I’m very involved with the Raiders. I’m sitting here talking to other people about being on other teams, and I still feel that way,” said Adams, who is entering the third season of a five-year, $140 million contract. “I’m tied to the Raiders and I feel really good about this team, and as far as I know, they feel good about me. If that changes or it gets to the point where they don’t feel the same way, I’m not done playing, so of course we’ll figure out whatever we have to figure out.”
Still, it’s hard for Adams not to wax poetic about what it was like to be paired with Rodgers, who is trying to lead the Jets to a Super Bowl after suffering a torn Achilles on just his fourth play since joining the team last season, and what it would be like to be paired with him again.
“The idea of playing with Aaron is definitely amazing,” Adams said. “I already know what it’s like. It’s kind of the same reason I came here and reunited with Derek. [Carr] Because I was familiar with him. And every time I do that, it helps me feel a little bit more confident than when I start over with someone I’ve never played with before, and they’re the best people to play with. At least that’s how I feel. I don’t know what you think about it, but I definitely feel that way. [Rodgers has] “You gave me a chance to show the world what I can do.”
Adams had 669 catches, 8,121 yards and 73 touchdowns in eight seasons with the Packers and Rodgers, including five double-digit touchdown seasons and three seasons with 1,374 or more yards.
Adams had his first year with the Raiders in 2022, and Carr took over as quarterback all year, throwing for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Adams doesn’t think Rogers has to be a great player.
“I’m not afraid to say he definitely made me better, but he definitely didn’t create me. You see, I had the same numbers the next year in Vegas,” he said. “So, obviously I didn’t ‘need’ him, but it makes life a ton easier, that’s for sure.”
Adams combined for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns last season, along with Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Aidan O’Connell.
Adams’ frustration with how the Raiders’ season was going before Josh McDaniels was fired midseason was revealed in the new Netflix series “Receivers,” in which Adams said he “approved” of the team benching Garoppolo.
That’s one reason ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky said on “Get Up” Tuesday that he thinks Adams is “already a done deal” for the Jets this season, a day after WFAN’s Boomer Esiason said he’s “heard word” a potential Adams trade could happen in late August or early September.
Rodgers fanned the flames when asked about Adams at the American Century Championship golf tournament over the weekend, saying, “I’m looking forward to playing with him again.”
The Jets signed receiver Mike Williams to a one-year, $10 million contract in free agency, making him the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson.
