Davante Adams will turn 31 when the 2023 season ends. So, for the wide receiver, the time to win is now since he’s approaching the latter stages of his prime. There’s no possible way that he’d “want out,” right? Adams wasn’t the only player from the Las Vegas Raiders to find himself in the headlines—it turns out Maxx Crosby “welcomed” a player that he’ll be facing in Week 3.
If the Raiders start slow, ESPN’s NFL senior reporter Dan Graziano speculates whether Adams could force his way out of Sin City.
Could Davante Adams want out of Vegas after two seasons?
The Raiders likely know that Adams wants to win now. The receiver is in the middle of his prime and wants a shot at winning a Super Bowl. Adams only has a few years left to be at a top level and might not want to waste time. Regrettably, Vegas is in a tough AFC West division with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Despite his reservations, Graziano notes that Adams will give McDaniels and Jimmy Garoppolo a shot.
Adams has spoken publicly about his disappointment over losing former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Vegas cut the veteran signal-caller, who ended up signing with the New Orleans Saints. Still, a bad start to the season, Graziano speculates whether Adams will ask for a trade.
“Things could get ugly in a hurry for the Raiders, who have seen a major overhaul since McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler got there 17 months ago but don’t appear to be any better,” Graziano wrote. “In fact, some might say they appear to be worse than the team that finished the 2021 season on a playoff run under interim coach Rich Bisaccia with Carr as its emotional leader.
“If that’s the case, will Adams want out? At the trade deadline? After the season? The potential for Adams to be on the move again so soon after bailing out of Green Bay is worth watching. And if it comes to that, it might be hard to blame him.”
Davante Adams enters Year 2 of his five-year contract, which has an out after the 2024 season. Still, moving off from the receiver would be a bitter pill for the Raiders to swallow with $15.7 million in dead cap in 2025 (h/t New York Post).
Josh Jacobs is likely holding out for a long-term contract and has an uncertain future in Vegas. Garoppolo is coming off foot surgery and will have the challenging task of hitting the ground running. These two will likely determine whether the Raiders can get their season off to a good start.
Maxx Crosby gave Steelers’ Pat Freiermuth his “Welcome to the NFL” moment…
Every rookie has their “Welcome to the NFL” moment. That one incident lets the young player know he’s no longer in college and playing they’re playing against grown men.
For Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, it was Crosby who let him know he was now playing in the NFL. Freiermuth appeared on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, where the 24-year-old was asked about who the hardest player is he’s ever had to block in his young career.
“Maxx Crosby,” Freiermuth said (h/t Clutch Points). “Dude, he f—ed me up. It was so bad. He sent me flying … I looked up; Kenny Pickett will confirm this story, like, ‘Dude, what do you want me to do?’ [He said] ‘I don’t know, go low?’ Maxx Crosby is a hell of a player.”
Freiermuth shouldn’t feel too bad about Crosby getting the best of him. The Raiders’ star pass rusher is one of the best at his position, racking up 12.5 sacks last season. Crosby still wants to get better at getting to the quarterback in 2023.
Crosby wants to be the best at his position, which is scary for the opposition. If the 25-year-old is healthy, expect at least one rookie this season to get their “Welcome to the NFL” moment from Crosby.
*Top Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images