When it was originally reported Davante Adams requested a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, it was said he had two preferred destination — the New Orleans Saints or New York Jets. He would accept a trade to other destinations, but he would land on one of those two teams if he was given his pick.
The appeal for both destinations are similar, but per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets are at the top of Adams’ wish list. This doesn’t remove the Saints from the mix, but it does drop them down a level in the pecking order.
The Jets have Aaron Rodgers, his quarterback with the Green Bay Packers. The Saints have Derek Carr, Adams’ collegiate quarterback and the reason he went to Vegas. Both teams have young Ohio State wide receivers in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, as well, who Adams could mentor.
While the Saints may still be high on Adams’ list, there appears to be a separation from the Jets at the top and the rest of the pack. Originally, it seemed the Saints and Jets were evenly matched, and then this separation emerged.
On the bright side, teams tend to trade talented players like Adams out of the conference. And ultimately Adams won’t choose where he goes since he doesn’t have a no-trade clause or other leverage. The Raiders will take the best offer. That could give New Orleans an edge if they have to spend more to get some help maneuvering around the salary cap.