Jets’ Adams dream may be over after Vegas’ Pierce hire
JETS fans dreaming of a Davante Adams trade this winter may have gotten awakened from that dream Friday.
The Raiders removed the interim tag from Antonio Pierce and made him their head coach. That move may kill the idea that the Raiders would trade Adams this offseason or Adams would ask for a trade. Adams, the team’s star receiver, had been unhappy early in the 2023 season when he was not being targeted often under coach Josh McDaniels. That led to speculation that the Raiders might trade Adams. The Jets inquired about Adams’ availability multiple times before the October 31 trade deadline but were told he was not available. McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were surprisingly fired the day after the trade deadline. That led many to believe the Raiders would undergo a rebuild in 2024 and Adams might be available. The Jets were an obvious suitor for Adams since they need a wide receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson and quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Adams spent eight years as teammates with the Packers.
But Pierce, the former Giants linebacker, replaced McDaniels and ended up going 5-4 over the rest of the season.
Adams was one of several Raiders who were vocal in their support of Pierce.
“That’s my vote, and that’s basically how the whole locker room feels,” Adams said of Pierce getting the job. “With good reason. He’s come in and done a great job. He’s continued to win us over. It’s not just the comfortable thing. I think having AP here will be good for this organization. He kind of embodies what it means to be a Raider. That mentality, that swag and all the things he endorses [are] the things that I believe in.
“It’s easy for a guy like me, especially having dealt with him a little bit this year now and gotten to know him and see his evolution in front of the team. All those things, all those different fields of being a head coach. Definitely rooting for him.”
The Raiders have not hired a GM yet but interim Champ Kelly could get the job. With Adams’ support of Pierce, it seems highly unlikely he would now want out of Las Vegas. The Raiders hiring Pierce also indicates they do not feel like they need a total rebuild.
All of that could leave the Jets without the option of trading for Adams. The Jets still could fill their hole at wide receiver through free agency. Tee Higgins, Mike Evans and Michael Pittman are all scheduled to become free agents if their teams do not re-sign them or use the franchise tag on them.
The Adams trade rumors won’t be totally crushed until Pierce or the team’s new GM comes out and says they are not trading him, but it now feels more likely that he will be in silver and black in 2024 instead of green and white.