Davante Adams asserts his satisfaction with being a Raider, a sentiment that stands out among many who might struggle with the Las Vegas lifestyle. If he is genuinely content, that is commendable.
However, Adams serves as a prime example of why retaining a high-caliber player can sometimes be a costly mistake.
Adams has fulfilled the expectations the Raiders had when they acquired him two years ago, proving to be a consistent, healthy, All-Pro player. But in the NFL, acquiring talent is not solely about the player’s abilities; it involves considerations of cost, fit, and timing.
Two years prior, the Raiders traded their first- and second-round picks in the 2022 draft to secure Adams. They also extended his contract for five years at a market-leading rate of $28 million per year. While Adams deserved this compensation, he was 29 at the time. Such a deal is typically made by a team on the brink of a Super Bowl run, and the Raiders were not in that position.
The Raiders had just finished a 10–7 season, yet they had been outscored by 65 points and boasted one of the NFL’s worst defenses. The timing for this acquisition was flawed, compounded by the significant cost which hindered their immediate improvement.
Since the trade, the Raiders have posted a 14–20 record. Adams is now 31 years old, and the team is led by Gardner Minshew II, a quarterback seen as a temporary solution. With a new coach, Antonio Pierce, and a new general manager, Tom Telesco, this is an opportune moment to address cap issues and stockpile assets, which should include trading Adams. Yet, he remains with the team.
Despite the clarity of this situation, the Raiders have been slow to act.
Internal factors often remain hidden from public view, but the visible aspects provide a clear narrative.
Raiders owner Mark Davis, known for making bold decisions, convinced himself that a high-profile acquisition was the solution. He hired Josh McDaniels and his preferred general manager, Dave Ziegler, granting them significant control.
McDaniels, known for his contentious tenure with the Denver Broncos and issues with the Indianapolis Colts, believed that fostering personal relationships would lead to success. Adams’s desire to play alongside his college quarterback, Derek Carr, created a compelling opportunity for McDaniels to strengthen his bond with key players.
Davis’s decision to acquire Adams mirrored his previous lavish spending on team assets, including hiring Jon Gruden and Becky Hammon. The acquisition was likely intended to mirror his father’s legacy of investing in star players.
McDaniels’s dissatisfaction with Carr and Davis’s subsequent dissatisfaction with McDaniels led to further high-profile moves, including firing McDaniels and hiring Pierce and Telesco. Now in charge, Pierce and Telesco face a rebuilding phase where trading Adams for draft picks should be considered.
Davis’s history includes firing five full-time head coaches since taking control of the Raiders in 2011, with only Gruden reaching a fourth year. Davis’s tendency to quickly shift focus to high-profile names, regardless of the cost, might influence the current regime’s urgency to win this season.
Adams remains a standout player who is expected to have a productive season. However, as he approaches 32, the likelihood of the Raiders being true contenders with him as a star seems low. Keeping Adams may epitomize a series of missteps: the right player, but the wrong decisions.
