Insider criticizes Raiders for handling of Davante Adams, Jets saga

After months of speculation, it was learned Tuesday that the New York Jets had agreed to acquire wide receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders in return for a conditional third-round draft pick that can become a second-round choice if Adams earns an All-Pro nod or is on the Jets' active roster for this season's AFC Championship Game or Super Bowl LIX.

Later in the day, NFL insider Jeff Howe of The Athletic criticized the Raiders for letting the Adams saga drag into the middle of October. 

"Before the start of the season," Howe explained, "rival executives anticipated the Raiders could get to this point with Adams ... An offseason trade could have netted a firm second-round pick, maybe even more." 

Adams was repeatedly linked with the Jets after New York landed quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in the spring of 2023, as the two were teammates with the Packers from 2014-21. While Adams insisted this past summer he was "locked in with the Raiders," it's thought Las Vegas should've just moved on from the 31-year-old before Week 1 considering it was no secret that neither 2023 fourth-round draft pick Aidan O'Connell nor journeyman Gardner Minshew is the club's long-term answer at quarterback. 

"If this was a trade largely motivated by finances, the Raiders didn’t help themselves by waiting," Howe continued. "They could have saved nearly an additional $1.9M by moving Adams two weeks ago ... If they retained all but the minimum balance of Adams’ base salary — roughly $10.5M — the Raiders would have gotten a better pick in return, either a firm second-rounder or at least better conditions on the trade terms." 

The Jets reportedly have agreed to pay the remainder of Adams' $11.59M salary, including per-game roster bonuses. 

The Raiders were unable to move up in this year's draft order to grab current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the betting favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for this season. Having a guaranteed extra second-round draft pick could come in handy if Las Vegas wants to make a big splash for a signal-caller either before or during next year's draft.

In short, the Raiders' gamble that they could be competitive this fall with Adams on the roster cost them money and better compensation they would have received had they just made this trade during training camp.