Aidan O’Connell could influence possibility of Davante Adams trade?

In accordance with recent reports suggesting that the trading market for Robbers wide receiver Davante Adams could cool down, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms that Adams can indeed remain with Las Vegas for the rest of the season. That’s mainly because the club continues to push for a second-round pick plus additional compensation in an Adams trade, and also wants the acquiring team to cover all of Adams’ remaining base salary through 2024.

Besides the demands of the Raiders – not to mention the way the Jets to shoot from HC Robert Saleh and the injury lasting several weeks to Saints QB Derek Carr could impact trade negotiations – a more unexpected factor could play a role in keeping Adams in Nevada. Per Schefter, the Raiders’ recent decision to bank quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of second-year passers Aidan O’Connell could make Adams reconsider his desire to be traded.

Last year, Adams was frustrated when he was deployed to Las Vegas Jimmy Garoppolo under center, and those frustrations disappeared when O’Connell emerged as the QB1 (a move that Adams endorsed and to which he committed his future to the Raiders). Sources tell Schefter that Adams believes O’Connell is one of the best signal callers he has played with and is intrigued by the prospect of catching passes from the Purdue product again.

That said, both Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) report that the Jets, Saints, SteelersAnd Bills continue to discuss a potential deal with the Raiders. Schefter added that Pittsburgh brass was expected to continue these discussions in person yesterday as the Steelers are in Las Vegas for their Week 6 matchup against the Raiders.

Additional, Tony Pauline from Sportskeeda is hearing that an Adams trade could happen as soon as next week, and that the Jets are the most aggressive suitor at the moment (last week, New Orleans reportedly made the biggest push to land the soon-to-be 32-year-old ). According to Pauline, Saleh’s fire and the subsequent relegation from OC Nathaniel Hackett hasn’t made Adams any less open to playing for Gang Green, but Pauline agrees with Schefter that O’Connell’s presence could derail trade talks.

Mark Davis is very fond of Adams, who is said to have the owner’s ear. Pauline says it is certainly possible that with O’Connell back in the starting line-up, Adams could ask Davis to break off talks with rival clubs.

Mike Florio of Pro Football TalkHowever, believes that the reports indicating that the Raiders could retain Adams are being driven by the team itself to create leverage it currently does not have. After all, regardless of whether Minshew or O’Donnell is at the helm, it’s hard to imagine Las Vegas making a deep playoff run, and as a non-contender with a talented but aging player earning a non-guaranteed $35, 6 million is owed. base salary in 2025, the only logical move for the Raiders is to distribute the decorated wide.

Likewise, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones hears from multiple league sources that Las Vegas is just bluffing. One source said: “FIt’s a bit like Vegas trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube to save Davante’s market. I think everyone knows the only thing they can do is deal him.”

According to Florio, the Jets are the only club that really wants Adams right now, and the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo hears that this could be a “Jets or bust” situation (video link). Garafolo adds that if New York were to win tomorrow night’s game against the Bills – which would move Gang Green into first place in the AFC East – the club could be more inclined to make a bold attack on their highly anticipated goal (although Jones , unlike Pauline, says the Saleh firing did indeed make Adams a bit more wary of joining the Jets).

Adams will be sidelined for today’s game with the Steelers due to a hamstring injury. It will mark his third absence in a row.