The Buffalo Bills are no strangers to talks about top NFL receivers. When a team’s best pass catcher suddenly makes news as a potential trade candidate, is released, or otherwise, analysts and writers often jump to the conclusion that “insert notable receiver’s name) would be an excellent addition to Buffalo’s offence.”
When it comes to how receivers might work with quarterback Josh Allen, it’s a simple hill to climb. Stefon Diggs set career highs while receiving passes from Allen. To land him, general manager Brandon Beane has to be willing to make an undeniable offer.
Davante Adams, a wide receiver with the Las Vegas Raiders, has been a major topic of discussion heading into Week 5. According to Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Vincent Bonsignore, citing an unidentified league source, the Raiders are open to trade proposals for Adams and have already reached out to multiple clubs. It was an intriguing piece of news, to say the least, albeit the report did not name any NFL teams that had been contacted.
Fans and others who study various clubs and the NFL as a whole began to speculate about what might happen to Adams before this year’s trade deadline. Senior NFL source Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported the next day that the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys were among the “many teams monitoring the Davante Adams situation.” Russini said that the Raiders were not in a hurry to move on from Adams until they found the correct compensation, but that “Adams wants out ASAP.”
We hadn’t seen any verifiable mentions of the Bills, but we couldn’t rule them out.
Then, a few hours later, ESPN’s Mina Kimes reacted to a tweet by ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder with a photo of Brandon Beane. Walder’s tweet outlined the Raiders-Adams financial situation and team cap, as well as his belief that the “ideal move” would be for an interested team to offer premium draft capital in exchange for a portion of Adams’ 2024 salary in the form of a bonus conversion.
Was there any fire beneath the smoke for “Big Baller Beane” to be on the horn and working a deal? Do the Bills really need to bring back a dominant WR1 in this way?
Following Kimes’ tweet, senior NFL analyst Albert Breer broke the first verifiable news: the Bills were one of the teams in trade talks for Davante Adams. Breer was emphatic in stating that teams were “convinced” Adams was attempting to arrange a reunion with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Still, Buffalo was officially on the board at this point, and the Bills Mafia proceeded to spread the word on social media.
Following Kimes’ tweet, senior NFL analyst Albert Breer broke the first verifiable news: the Bills were one of the teams in trade talks for Davante Adams. Breer was emphatic in stating that teams were “convinced” Adams was attempting to arrange a reunion with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Still, Buffalo was officially on the board at this point, and the Bills Mafia proceeded to spread the word on social media.
Early Thursday, Ryan Talbot drove Bills Twitter into a frenzy by suggesting that Davante Adams would “reportedly be happy” to join the Buffalo Bills.
Russini then returned to the conversation, stating that she believed the Bills would become more interested if the Raiders were willing to absorb portion of Adams’ $13.5 million cap cost in 2024 (which Russini shared shrinks by $970,000 per week).
So, what do we make of all this news? At this time, all we have is a lot of deep and nuanced discussion. This is not the first time this year that Davante Adams has been linked to the Bills.
The Bills, under offensive coordinator Joe Brady, are satisfied with their newly adopted “everybody eats” program, but it hasn’t produced the most productive passing numbers during the first month of the season. How content would Davante Adams be as a member of a team that appears to want its pass catchers to leave their egos at the door?
Wherever he goes, will he expect a role similar to Stefon Diggs’ previous four seasons in Buffalo? Are the Bills looking for a new veteran WR1 and less devoted to the often-repeated “everybody eats” mantra?
To be fair, Brady’s offence has not hampered Josh Allen this season, as proven by his selection as AFC Player of the Month in September. However, Allen has yet to identify a receiver this season who allows him to pick apart defences like he has in the past. Davante Adams provides an excellent opportunity to change the situation.
Allen’s favourite target for the past four weeks has been wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who is now suffering with an ankle issue. If Shakir is absent, they will need someone to fill in. Once up and running, Adams would be an excellent match for the position.
But, for the Buffalo Bills, is it worthwhile, feasible, or wise? Even if Adams is amenable to the notion, his contract and preferences may make it irrelevant. The other important consideration for any general manager is Adams’ hamstring ailment. If the transfer is intended to compensate for Shakir’s absence for any period of time, they will be replacing one injury with another. He’s undeniably a prolific receiver, but Adams turns 32 on Christmas Eve, and it’s fair wondering if his greatest seasons are behind him.
Given Adams’ acquaintance with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr, the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints remain top contenders in trade negotiations. The majority of the discussion focuses on the Jets, where Rodgers has played a key role in building the club around him.
Davante Adams may wind up in the AFC East, albeit in the tri-state area. As we’ve seen in the past, it might be good not to rule out Brandon Beane and the Bills.
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