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Netflix will be premiering a new documentary series this summer on the NFL’s top receivers that documents their 2023 seasons. The Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams is one of them and, no spoiler alert, when the rest of the receivers are preparing for last season’s playoffs, Adams will be shown making popcorn or playing with his daughters in the backyard.
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We actually haven’t seen a screening of the show, but you can be sure that a restless Adams will be one of the most interested spectators of the NFL Draft this weekend.
Adams is still arguably the best receiver in the NFL, but his first two years in Las Vegas haven’t done him any favors. The Raiders have had two losing seasons, the first one after college buddy Derek Carr lost his confidence under Josh McDaniels. Then last year, McDaniels brought in free agent Jimmy Garoppolo, who had foot surgery and somehow lost the limited strength in his throwing arm.
If not for the energy infusion from then-interim coach Antonio Pierce and the beautiful golf courses in Vegas, Adams might truly be miserable.
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There has been so much talk about the quarterbacks in this draft and Adams would surely like one of those shiny new toys to play with. His 11.1 yards per catch last season was his worst average since 2015, and newly-signed, fun-loving journeyman Gardner Minshew is not exactly a gunslinger.
(You may think “journeyman” is harsh, but we say it with love. This is Minshew’s fourth team in six years in the NFL. His RV really is the perfect vehicle for him.)
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Unfortunately for Adams, the top quarterbacks very likely could go 1 through 4 in this year’s draft.
It sure doesn’t seem like the Raiders will be able to trade up from No. 13 for Jayden Daniels, but there might be a small window to get to No. 3 or 4 for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy. If I were a No. 1 receiver, I would try and storm the draft room, grab the phone and offer a team the three first-rounders it would take to move up.
But Adams is a cool customer.
He said all the right things when Carr was benched and he didn’t throw his helmet until the 23rd time Garoppolo underthrew or missed him. And a couple of weeks ago at his football camp for kids, he said, “If I wanted to be gone, I’d be gone by now. This is where I want to be.”
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Adams has to be hoping the Raiders take care of him like they did the team’s other star, Maxx Crosby. New general manager Tom Telesco gave free agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins $85 million guaranteed to eliminate some of the double- (and triple-) teams on Crosby.
(The Raiders’ third star, Josh Jacobs, was a running back so he doesn’t count. The wins will warm him up, though, during the Green Bay winters.)
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Who can Telesco get for Adams? Well, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throws the prettiest deep ball in the draft and is healthy now after a college career full of injuries. Picking him 13th seems way too high given there should be elite cornerbacks and offensive tackles on the board, but it makes sense for two reasons:
1. It might be the Raiders’ only chance to get a rookie starting quarterback this draft.
2. It would give Adams a talented thrower to work with and unleash his immense skill set again, as the Raiders would finally have a play caller, an able-bodied quarterback and Adams all on the same page for the first time. And don’t think the clock isn’t ticking.
Adams, 31, will make $16.9 million in salary this season and count $25.4 million against the salary cap. Next year, that number jumps to $44 million — so, yeah, that’s not happening. Adams will need a new deal with the Raiders or he may decide he has a better chance at making the playoffs somewhere else.
(And the Raiders may decide they should draft a receiver in the third or fourth round this week just in case.)
But that’s down the road. And we’re not saying the Raiders can’t make the playoffs with Minshew or Aidan O’Connell at quarterback. It would just be easier with someone with more arm talent, like the quarterbacks who are going to go in the first round Thursday night.
And Penix is by no means a sure thing — and we’re not even talking about the multiple season-ending injuries. He is only seven years younger than Adams, his footwork needs work and he is likely the least polished of the top six quarterbacks at making plays outside of the pocket.
But one can understand why Telesco would make the leap.
Whatever he decides to do — and Telesco said Monday that he has plans worked out to trade up, stand pat or trade down — it will actually be hard to argue with.
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Taking an elite cornerback like Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold at 13 could really unlock the defense and drafting a nasty offensive tackle like Taliese Fuaga seems like a no-brainer as well.
Trading up for an elite quarterback or taking Penix is a nod that the NFL is a quarterback league and you have to shoot your shot to get a top one.
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And, finally, trading down to get an extra pick and take advantage of the depth of this draft at offensive tackle is also prudent, especially if the Raiders can get Penix or underrated cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry later in the first round.
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens. Get your popcorn.
Adams will have his.
(Photo: Ryan Kang / Getty Images)
