In the latest edition of “Davante Adams isn’t being traded,” the Raiders’ star receiver made it clear he wants to be in Las Vegas.
“If I wanted to be gone, I’d be gone by now,” Adams said Sunday, according to The Athletic. “This is where I want to be.”
Adams has been floated as a potential trade candidate since last offseason due to all the change and turmoil that has engulfed the Raiders.
Las Vegas moved on from his good friend, quarterback Derek Carr, last offseason, and the Raiders fired coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler during the season.
The Jets attempted last season to acquire Adams, Aaron Rodgers’ former No. 1 receiver in Green Bay, but the Raiders rebuffed the efforts.
While the Jets and other receiver-needy franchises can only hope that Adams decides he wants out in the near future, he’s made it clear he wants to give the new regime a chance.
The Raiders hired Antonio Pierce as their coach after he finished the year with the interim tag, and the Raiders hired former Chargers general manager Tom Telesco for the same position.
Telesco essentially shut down any trade rumors at the NFL combine, which is notable since it’s the NFL’s last big event before next week’s NFL Draft.
“He’s a Raider,” Telesco said he would tell teams inquiring about Adams.
Adams is pleased the Raiders are giving Pierce the reins to the franchise.
“It’s already helped the morale of the team,” Adams said, per The Athletic. “It’s what we were all looking for: To be able to continue with the same mindset that we had. That’s our guy. We’ve got to get to work now. … It’s about what we go out there and do.”
Adams is optimistic the Raiders can still provide him a chance to win a championship, even if other teams like the Jets seem closer, on paper, to that ring.
“It’s obvious what we want to do,” Adams said, per the outlet, “but it’s a lot of work that needs to get put in before you can even talk about doing that.”
