The Las Vegas Raiders should have plenty of playmakers on offense in 2021, but one player could take the group to the next level.
The Las Vegas Raiders struggled mightily on the defensive side of the ball last season, finishing up in the bottom-3 of the entire NFL. The offense, on the other hand, was one of the best in football, as Derek Carr had another monster season under Jon Gruden, and both Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller made their first Pro Bowl.
One of the keys to the offense last season was the play of Nelson Agholor, who came in on a one-year deal with very low expectations and became the top wideout for the Silver and Black. With him leaving for New England in free agency, the Raiders went out and brought in veterans John Brown and Willie Snead, hoping to give the group some key pieces at the position group.
However, with Davante Adams and the Green Bay Packers breaking off contract negotiations this week, we got to thinking, how great would it be for the Raiders to go out and trade for him. Las Vegas still does not know who their WR1 will be as we are a few days away from the start of training camp, making Adams a perfect fit.
With that said, here are three reasons the Raiders must trade for Davante Adams.
3 reasons the Las Vegas Raiders must trade for Davante Adams
Allows Ruggs and Edwards to come along at their own pace
Last year, the Las Vegas Raiders used two draft picks on the wide receiver position, bringing in Henry Ruggs III in the first round, and then Bryan Edwards in the third. As rookies, the tandem had their share of ups and downs, and the hope is that they can become a huge part of this offense in Year 2.
The problem last season was the lack of a real training camp, injuries, and COVID-19, as they did show flashes that they can be playmakers at this level at points in the season. In 2021, the jump will have to be huge, and for both players, they may not be ready to come in and be the top two wideouts on this depth chart.
By adding Adams, the Raiders may have to trade away Ruggs or Edwards, but if both stay, or even one of them, they would be able to come along at their own pace. Sure, teams expect first-rounders to come in and excel right away, but if Adams came in as the WR1, Ruggs could be used in many different roles, utilizing his impressive skill set.
3 reasons the Las Vegas Raiders must trade for Davante Adams
He would take the offense to the next level
There is no doubt that Davante Adams is one of the best wide receivers in all of football, and he should be paid as such by the Green Bay Packers. If the team does make him available in a trade, the Raiders need to jump at the chance, as he is a player who could take this group to the next level.
Las Vegas already has an elite tight end in Darren Waller, and the duo of Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake at running back is going to be one of the best in football. When you add to the fact that the offensive line should be more than capable of giving Carr some time to throw, this is a group that would be very hard to stop for four quarters against any defense.
This is an offense that should be excellent in 2021, thanks to the likes of Waller and Jacobs, but with Adams in the fold, it becomes one of the elite. In fact, the trio of Jacobs, Adams, and Waller at running back, wide receiver, and tight end may be the best in all of football.
3 reasons the Las Vegas Raiders must trade for Davante Adams
His relationship with Derek Carr
During their time together at Fresno State, Derek Carr and Davante Adams became one of the better quarterback-wide receiver duos in all of college football. The two stars connected on nearly 250 passes for over 3,000 yards in two seasons, with Adams hauling in nearly 40 touchdowns.
Imagine that kind of magic under the bright lights of Las Vegas, with Carr and Adams reuniting to form one of the better duos at the next level as well. We have seen what Carr can do with decent wideouts like Michael Crabtree and Agholor, but imagine if he had a player like Adams on the outside.
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Carr has been very vocal with his intentions of bringing Adams to Las Vegas for next season, but if the Raiders can swing a deal for him this offseason, why not bring him in. This is a team that must get back to the playoffs in 2021, and with so much firepower in the AFC West alone, they must keep pace, and Adams helps them do that.