“That which begins will also end.”
A fitting line from “Leaving Las Vegas,” as it pertains to the Davante Adams-Las Vegas Raiders saga, which, by all accounts, seems headed toward its conclusion.
On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur reported the star wide receiver had requested to be traded from the Raiders. After the news broke, the usual questions of “Which team will trade for Adams?” and “What can they get for him?” floated to the top of everyone’s minds.
Betting odds can provide one fun lens to peer into Adams’ potential playing future. To be clear, the odds are not the end-all-be-all in any of these scenarios, but they are an entertaining jumping-off point, especially for daily group chats with friends and fans.
Here’s a look at Adams’ next team odds and some thoughts from The Athletic’s NFL staff on what a potential Adams trade could net for the Raiders.
Odds via BetMGM (Ontario only)
Jets -150
Saints +300
Commanders +500
Steelers +1100
Cowboys +1800
Ravens +1800
49ers +1800
Per the odds, the New York Jets are the clear-cut favorites to land Adams.
Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata (a BetMGM operation in Atlantic City), made his own hypothetical odds, which differed slightly from the above list. He, too, had the Jets as the favorites but listed the Steelers second on his betting board.
Why did the long-time bookmaker make New York the favorite to land Adams?
“The rumors in the offseason about a reunion with [Jets quarterback] Aaron Rodgers were real but never came to fruition,” Gable said. “But the Jets have the cap space and draft picks to make this deal happen.”
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Senior NFL Reporter and host of “Scoop City” Dianna Russini, tweeted that the word around the League was “the Jets were the team that will get this trade done.”
My biggest takeaway from conversations with teams around the league? Many involved or have checked in believe the Jets are the team that will get this trade done.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 2, 2024
If Adams is traded to the Jets, what could the Raiders get in return?
The Athletic’s Zach Rosenblatt weighed in:
Offer: 2025 third- and fifth-round picks and a 2026 fourth-round pick for Adams
“If the Raiders care about making Adams happy — maybe they don’t, based on their decisions at quarterback — the Jets are the most obvious destination. Aaron Rodgers has been teasing the idea of reuniting with his old friend since he joined the Jets, and the two hung out the night before their teams’ matchup last November.
“The Jets haven’t gotten the production out of Garrett Wilson they hoped for, and adding Adams would certainly help that. If they truly are in win-now mode, this is an obvious move that would make their quarterback happy — though the bigger question is whether owner Woody Johnson will be willing to pay Adams’ salary for the remainder of the season or if the Jets will attempt to get the Raiders to eat some of it themselves.
“Anyway, this is the Jets’ offer. Please give Aaron back his friend.”
Another team to keep an eye on, per Russini, is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are interested in trading for Davante Adams, according to a source. There have been discussions and both sides are keeping an open line of communication.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 2, 2024
Gable explained why he listed the Steelers second on his betting board.
“They have George Pickens and still need another premier wide receiver to get them through the gauntlet, which is the back end of their schedule,” Gable said. “The nice start they have gotten off to may make them more likely to trade, and they were heavily interested in Brandon Aiyuk.”
If Pittsburgh were to jump into the fray, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo had some thoughts on the return package:
Offer: A 2025 second-round pick for Adams
“The Steelers’ need at receiver is obvious. Before the season, Pittsburgh nearly traded for Brandon Aiyuk, even though it would have meant giving up significant compensation and then paying the receiver more than star defender T.J. Watt. Having missed out on Aiyuk, the Steelers have been hurting for quality depth at the position. Pittsburgh receivers not named George Pickens have combined for 19 catches for 226 yards through four games.
“While the Raiders might want a second-round pick and more, GM Omar Khan has shown he’s a firm negotiator who will not move far off his initial offer. For that reason, let’s say the Steelers offer a second-round pick and nothing more. Would that be enough, considering Adams’ age and hefty salary-cap hit? To me, the Raiders making it public that they want a second-round pick suggests the price could be bargained down.
“Or if the Raiders want to backfill Adams’ spot, the Steelers could offer Calvin Austin III — who has seven catches this season for 125 yards and a touchdown — and either a second- or third-round pick.
“As for Adams’ contract, Khan made a name for himself finding creative ways to manipulate the salary cap. Should the Steelers acquire Adams, they’d likely find some way to restructure his deal to make it more team-friendly.”
(Photo of Davante Adams: Steve Marcus / Getty Images)
