Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes a touchdown reception by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) during the first half of an NFL football game at Allegiant Stadium Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Related Coverage
- Regardless of next quarterback, Raiders must overhaul defense this offseason
- Stidham shines, but Raiders eliminated with OT loss to 49ers
- ‘Tough as hell’ Jarrett Stidham won’t be intimidated by making his first NFL start
- Raiders teammates have mixed reactions to Derek Carr’s benching
- Raiders will bench Derek Carr, start Jarrett Stidham to finish season
A week ago, Davante Adams spoke in a sullen manner to reporters while sitting at his locker on the day the Raiders announced they were benching his close friend Derek Carr. He didn’t want to discuss his future beyond anything more than the team’s final two games of the season.
Adams struck a different tone Wednesday as the Raiders started preparations for the final game of the year, a Saturday home date against the rival Kansas City Chiefs. Back at the podium that serves as the usual site for his weekly news conference, Adams answered “yeah, absolutely” when asked if he wanted to return to the Raiders next season.
“I support (Carr), support everything he has moving forward as well but my dream was to play for this team before he was a Raider,” Adams said. “At this point, I want to try to make this thing work and continue on doing what I’m doing here.”
The 30-year-old Pro Bowl receiver has two years and more than $44 million left guaranteed on a contract he signed after getting traded from the Green Bay Packers to the Raiders this offseason. There’s a team option for two more years at a total of $72.5 million after that.
The gargantuan nature of Adams’ deal would have made him difficult to move, but some feared the Raiders may have no other choice if he was angry enough over the team moving on from Carr. It seems highly unlikely that will happen now; Adams isn’t interested in forcing his way out of Las Vegas.
“I wouldn’t have been here or ended up here originally probably if Derek wasn’t here but that doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t be here in the event he’s not here,” Adams said.
Carr had been the face of the franchise for the nine years he spent as the Raiders’ starting quarterback. Now that title belongs Adams.
There’s no doubt everyone in the organization wants him back. He’s been everything Las Vegas hoped for and more, even without Carr.
Adams had one of his best games in silver and black last week in backup Jarrett Stidham’s first career start, hauling in seven catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. His final reception in the eventual 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers was an unbelievable diving grab during a game-tying drive at the end of regulation that broke the franchise’s single-season receiving yards record.
Adams has 1,443 receiving yards heading into the Chiefs game, 35 more than Hall of Famer Tim Brown logged in the 1997 season when he set the previous record.
“It’s an incredible achievement and obviously we know whose record he broke,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. “He hasn’t missed a practice, literally very few reps the entire year. So to put in that kind of work, that kind of effort, that kind of dedication to his craft when he’s already achieved what he’s achieved prior to being here, I think it speaks to how incredible the person is.”
The relationship between McDaniels and Adams may not have always been perfect, but by all accounts, it’s in a good place now. The two have never really had any major spats, but Adams did call out the coach’s playcalling in the middle of a three-game losing streak midseason.
McDaniels defended Adams’ right to express his opinion, however, and took the criticism to heart. It was the most public example of the way Adams has frequently described he feels valued by McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler.
“Me, Josh, Ziegs, we’ve all got a really good dynamic and it’s something I really appreciate,” Adams said.
He’s hoping that dynamic extends into the offseason where he hopes to be included, if not consulted, on the franchise’s most pressing personnel issues. None loom larger than the decision the Raiders will need to make at quarterback with Carr on his way out.
Could Stidham really step in as the full-time starter? Should McDaniels reunite with one of two free-agent quarterbacks he previously worked with, Tom Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo? Would the Raiders entertain drafting a rookie quarterback?
Adams would like to have a say because he’s planning on being around.
“They know the reason why I came here and a step like this is obviously something that means a lot to me and my personal career and what I’m trying to chase as far as the ultimate pursuit to get that ring,” Adams said. “They know whether it’s about the scheme or about personnel or whatever it is, there’s a rhyme to the reason. I’m definitely going to have something behind whatever I’m thinking or saying.”
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or
