In case you missed it earlier in the week, All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams reportedly wants OUT of Las Vegas. Considering that we spent two years watching Luke Getsy’s offense sputter and spin its wheels, that Adams would prefer a trade out of town is quite relatable.
Anyway, the latest on the rumor mill regarding Davante Adams’ future destination stems from him sharing some Edgar Allen Poe references via social media on Friday:
No position group stirs up the masses via social media posts better than wide receivers.
The latest Davante Adams rumors (yes, there is a Bears angle here)
Early whispers on the rumor mill connected the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets at (or near) the top of Davante Adams’ wish list. If re-connecting with a former quarterback is a priority for Adams, then it would make sense for New York (Aaron Rodgers) and New Orleans (Derek Carr) to be in the running. The Bills and Steelers are teams with postseason aspirations beyond making it, so my mind goes “duh” when I see them as possible trade partners with the Raiders. But making reference to Edgar Allen Poe brings the Baltimore Ravens to the table. Who saw that coming?
Before you start envisioning Davante Adams joining forces with Lamar Jackson, hold your horses:
Ahhhh! There is nothing like throwing cold water on some hot rumors.
And on that note, I’ll do the same regarding the Chicago Bears’ potential interest in Davante Adams.
Yes, I did see the Davante Adams-Bears trade rumor stuff floating around the web. I found it odd, so I went to investigate its origins and validity. As it turns out the source material for the Adams-Bears rumors comes from Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr listing 14 teams that should be interested in swinging a trade. This is where reading comprehension is crucial. Because “should” does not equal “are” or even “will be.”
And that is some important context to keep in mind in that regard. Orr does *NOT* explicitly connect the two as active trade partners. Instead, he mentions Chicago’s football team as one that could conceivably use Adams’ services. Here is Orr’s explanation:
Imagine having such a glut at the position that your four receivers on a given down could be Odunze, Allen, DJ Moore and Adams. The Bears have yet to run a play out of 10- or 01-personnel (one running back, four wide receivers; or one tight end, four wide receivers) according to SumerSports’s personnel tracker, and only six teams have run either formation so far this year (none with a positive EPA per play). But it does keep your rotation fresh and give Williams the rangiest playmaker in the NFL save for Justin Jefferson.
In a hypothetical scenario in which the Bears trade for Davante Adams, Connor Orr envisions the wideout serving as a mentor for Rome Odunze. To be fair, that is a swell idea! But Keenan Allen already serves in that role. And I’m not sure trading future assets to bolster what is already a strong position group makes sense for these Bears. But still … there is no denying that a quartet of receivers headlined by DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Adams would be tough to stop.
At the end of the day, I’m still monitoring Davante Adams trade rumors — yes, even if he isn’t coming to the Bears. Not necessarily because of the direct impact it could have on the Bears. But more so because of how it could shape the trade market. The NFL Trade Deadline is a month away, and Chicago’s front office should be busy. Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has swung deadline deals in each of the last two seasons. Depending on how things go in the coming weeks, he might make it a Three-Peat. Stay tuned.