The Las Vegas Raiders are entering prime 'Blow it up!!!' territory. A Sunday night loss at the hands of the offensively-suspect Pittsburgh Steelers was enough to send the fanbase — and star wideout Davante Adams — into a mild panic.
"I don't got time to wait around," Adams told reporters after the game. "It's not my mentality to sit here and try to take all season to figure it out."
The 30-year-old has never won a Super Bowl and it's clear he lacks patience for the wayward Raiders, who look completely lost after three weeks. Adams has done his part — 25 receptions for 322 yards and three touchdowns across three starts — but Josh McDaniels' squad has struggled to find production otherwise.
Jimmy Garoppolo probably doesn't have it. Josh Jacobs looks like a shell of the player who led the NFL in rushing last season. And the defense... well, it's not where it needs to be. It quite possibly saved Matt Canada's job, which is a tall task.
If this simmering discontent boils over into a trade demand, here are a few teams who should be itching to save Adams from the clutches of Sin City's football purgatory.
No. 3 NFL team to trade for Davante Adams: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a few solid receivers, but the absence of Diontae Johnson has been deeply felt early in the season. It's fair to wonder if Matt Canada's offense will ever reach the level it needs to, but Kenny Pickett has managed a career record of 9-6 despite the trappings of youth. The AFC North is up for grabs right now, and Davante Adams could swing the pendulum in Pittsburgh's favor.
Adams has proven his ability to get numbers regardless of his QB. He thrived as Aaron Rodgers' go-to for eight years, but he transitioned seamlessly into Derek Carr's orbit in Vegas last season. Jimmy Garoppolo? It's the same deal. Adams will get his, it's simply a matter of whether his teammates carry their own weight.
Pickett is mistake prone, but he has a strong arm and his preseason exploits were enough to establish a strong foundation of confidence in the Steelers faithful. With Johnson expected to rejoin the receiving corps soon, Pittsburgh would have the luxury of lining up Adams and Johnson on opposite sides. Maybe Adams is the player who finally gets Canada's offense over the 400-yard threshold.
The Steelers are hovering on the competitive bubble right now, but a couple gutsy wins is enough to peg them as a team to watch. The Cleveland Browns have beaten up on Cincinnati and Tennessee, but not Pittsburgh. The Raiders are far removed from juggernaut status, but Adams has now seen firsthand what separates the Steelers from Sin City. Maybe Sunday served as a successful sales pitch.
No. 2 NFL team to trade for Davante Adams: Baltimore Ravens
Perhaps the entire AFC North should make a play at Adams. Again, it's a wide-open division and the Baltimore Ravens are eager to make their mark. Lamar Jackson, fresh off signing his $260 million contract, looks comfortable in new offensive coordinator Todd Monken's system. He remains one of football's most potent individual weapons, capable of launching bombs in the pocket or using his legs to evade even the tightest pressure.
It's not fair to say Jackson doesn't have talent in the WR room. First-round pick Zay Flowers swiftly ascended to the WR1 role, establishing a strong rapport with Jackson as a speedster who can break off big chunks after the catch. Odell Beckham is past his prime, but he has his reputation for a reason. Rashod Bateman has been a reliable tertiary option for Jackson since entering the league in 2021.
That said, Baltimore's playmaking core don't always possess the same shine as its superstar QB. Jackson is a singular generative power, but the Ravens' offense can only go as far as the weapons around him. Flowers is great, but he's probably not WR1 on a Super Bowl team great (yet). Repurposing him in a complementary role while Davante Adams functions as Jackson's go-to would certainly elevate Baltimore's offensive ceiling.
Jackson has the big-play ability Adams' current QB lacks. Even in his age-31 season, Adams is virtually impossible to contain in single coverage. He's a constant winner in 50-50 situations, capable of high-pointing the ball for the most improbable of catches in traffic. He would be due for some true highlight-reel moments with Jackson slinging the pigskin in his direction.
No. 1 NFL team to trade for Davante Adams: Kansas City Chiefs
It's the boring answer... but, at the same time, the Kansas City Chiefs desperately need help at WR. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce will probably keep the offense floating near the top of the NFL by sheer force of will, but the Chiefs possess arguably the weakest receiving corps in football. That is unacceptable for a team rostering the greatest QB talent of his generation.
Kelce becomes even more dangerous when he's not the sole focus of every defensive game plan. Line up the NFL's best tight end opposite arguably the NFL's best wide receiver — with Mahomes taking snaps under center — and the Chiefs' offensive horsepower becomes borderline incomprehensible.
Aside from the surface-level joys of watching Mahomes pinpoint Adams 50 yards out, the veteran receiver would improve the situation for everyone around him. The likes of Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore will look better with less responsibility on their plate and more exploitable matchups in the backfield. Isiah Pacheco and the run game suddenly get more breathing room as defenses gear up for the Adams-Kelce air barrage.
The Chiefs got off to a slow start this season, but Mahomes looked to be in prime form during Sunday's 41-10 shellacking of the Bears. Chris Jones is back to his old ways on the D-line and the Chiefs are, per usual, perched comfortably atop the AFC West. Adams wants to join a contender — a team with an established identity and winning culture. Well, he couldn't dream of a better spot than KC.
