Unfortunately, Davante Adams to the Patriots Doesn’t Make Sense

The NFL world was hit with some big news on Tuesday afternoon. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams told the team he would “prefer to be traded.” This news caught the attention of the 31 other NFL franchises, their fans, and the media. Another report stated that the Raiders would consider a deal for a second-round pick and other compensation. Unfortunately for New England Patriots fans hoping the star receiver lands in Foxboro, that scenario is unlikely for several reasons.

To get the obvious out of the way, New England would be thrilled to have a player like Adams on their team. He turns 32 in December, but he is still very productive while playing a position the Patriots haven’t gotten much production from. Adams has 18 receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown this season despite not playing this past weekend. By contrast, DeMario Douglas leads New England’s wide receivers with 12 receptions and 94 yards through four games.

How poor has the production been from the Patriots wide receivers this season? There are 79 NFL wide receivers with at least 100 yards receiving in 2024, and none of them play for New England. Every other franchise has at least two, with 15 teams having at least three and the Los Angeles Rams employing five. However, it is overly optimistic to believe even an elite wide receiver like Davante Adams would drastically change the results in New England’s wide receivers room.

Also Read – A Disgruntled DeMario Douglas Doesn’t Help the Patriots

New England Has Bigger Needs

If the New England Patriots wide receivers struggled to get open or catch the ball, there would be greater concern at the position. New England obtaining a true number-one wideout would be great. But at the moment, even prime Jerry Rice would struggle to put up numbers on this Patriots team. Eliot Wolf acquiring a premier left tackle for New England fills a far bigger need than adding a player like Adams.

The pass protection gives Jacoby Brissett little time to do anything but try to survive after taking the snap. The early results for the Patriots offense in 2024 highlight just how much was taken for granted for so long. It’s great to have a playmaking wide receiver like Davante Adams, no question about it. But for that player to produce, the team needs to line up correctly, execute the snap, protect the quarterback long enough to get him open, have the QB throw a catchable pass, and then the wide receiver can do their job. The Patriots remain several steps removed from that point.

Davante Adams Contract

Adams’ contract comes with a cap hit of $36.25 million for each of the next two seasons. Those years are non-guaranteed. However, if a team trading for him, specifically the New England Patriots, is willing to meet the Raiders’ trade request, the assumption is they’d want to hold onto the player beyond 2024.

A Super Bowl contender can afford to trade for a potential rental. The New England Patriots are not a Super Bowl contender.

Davante Adams might be willing to renegotiate his deal to play for a desired destination. The New England Patriots are not a desired destination.

The age factor might be a consideration, but it shouldn’t be a major one. Adams is only two years older than Calvin Ridley, whom the Patriots pursued aggressively in free agency. Thirty NFL wide receivers have had 1,000-yard seasons at age 33 or older, including 18 players with multiple such seasons. Jerry Rice had five of them. Adams producing at a high level for another few seasons is very realistic.

Just Too Risky This Season

The risk vs. reward balance for a Davante Adams to New England trade makes it unrealistic. New England would offer something like a third-round pick and Javon Baker to Las Vegas. Adams would not alter the Patriots’ fortunes in 2024. The hope would be that he’d develop a rapport with Drake Maye, the Patriots would acquire more offensive line talent in the offseason, and they’d have him for two more seasons at $36.25 million per year. Even in that scenario, is that money well spent?

Furthermore, Adams being miserable about a trade to New England seems likely. With the Patriots’ emphasis on building a positive team culture, would an unhappy veteran superstar be the right call? Again, that’s a gamble a contending team with an established culture can afford much more readily.

The bad news for the Patriots is “The Dynasty” years are over. The hope is that Drake Maye will help eventually usher in a new one. If that happens, Foxboro can become a destination for unhappy stars on other teams. That time has not yet arrived.

Davante Adams will be traded to a team hoping to make a Super Bowl run this season. The Kansas City Chiefs, hoping to bolster their chances of winning a third title in a row, could land Adams. Or, he might reunite with one of his former quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, or Derek Carr with the New Orleans Saints. Perhaps another premier quarterback like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson adds another weapon. But Davante Adams won’t play for the New England Patriots in 2024, and that’s okay.