DAVANTE ADAMS: REGRETS OVER LAS VEGAS RAIDERS CONTRACT BEGIN TO SURFACE
When Davante Adams left the Green Bay Packers in 2022, it was supposed to be a triumphant return to his home state of California, a chance to play with his college quarterback Derek Carr, and a fresh start with the Las Vegas Raiders. The $140 million contract was eye-popping. The potential for a lethal offense was undeniable. But fast forward to 2025, and Adams is grappling with a growing sense of regret — not necessarily over the money, but over everything that came after.
Adams was traded to the Raiders in March 2022, signing a five-year deal that made him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in NFL history. At the time, it seemed like a win-win. Adams got his payday and a reunion with Carr, and the Raiders got a superstar receiver. But the team’s inconsistency, coaching changes, and organizational dysfunction have steadily eroded that optimism. With three losing seasons and a carousel of quarterbacks, Adams has found himself wondering if he made the right call.
“I came here with a vision,” Adams said in a recent interview. “That vision hasn’t come close to being fulfilled.”
The Raiders have undergone constant turmoil since Adams’ arrival. Head coach Josh McDaniels was fired in 2023. Derek Carr was released the same year, ending the highly anticipated QB-WR reunion after just one season. Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O’Connell, and other fill-ins failed to establish chemistry with Adams. By the start of 2025, the Raiders were still searching for a long-term answer at quarterback, and Adams was entering the back half of his prime years with little to show for the move.
For a player who spent eight seasons in Green Bay catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, this was a jarring drop-off. With Rodgers, Adams was a perennial Pro Bowler, First-Team All-Pro selection, and a nightly matchup nightmare. In Las Vegas, despite still posting decent individual numbers, he hasn’t been the same unstoppable force. Opposing defenses know the Raiders don’t have the quarterback play to make them pay, and they’ve begun to focus all their attention on shutting Adams down.
“I don’t regret being here,” Adams said diplomatically. “But I do regret how things have played out. I came here to win. That’s always been my goal.”
Behind the scenes, reports have surfaced suggesting Adams has grown increasingly frustrated. He’s reportedly voiced his displeasure to the front office on multiple occasions, especially after the team failed to pursue a top-tier quarterback this offseason. While new head coach Antonio Pierce has emphasized building a culture of toughness and unity, that hasn’t yet translated into wins or stability at the most important position in football.
Fans have also noticed Adams’ body language shift. On the sidelines, he’s been caught looking visibly frustrated, slamming his helmet, and shaking his head after misfires or missed opportunities. Despite remaining a leader in the locker room, it’s clear he’s carrying the weight of unfulfilled expectations.
The question now is what happens next.
Adams is still under contract through 2026. Trading him would carry a significant cap hit for the Raiders, but it’s not out of the question. Several teams — including the New York Jets (where Aaron Rodgers is), the Buffalo Bills, and even the Kansas City Chiefs — would likely be interested in acquiring his services if the Raiders chose to rebuild. Adams, for his part, hasn’t publicly asked for a trade, but he hasn’t ruled it out either.
“I just want to compete at the highest level,” Adams said. “Whatever it takes for that to happen, I’ll consider it.”
Some NFL insiders believe the Raiders are wasting one of the final elite years of Adams’ career. At 32, he’s not old by wide receiver standards, but the clock is ticking. His window to win a championship is shrinking, and he knows it.
“I didn’t come here to chase stats,” he added. “I came here to chase a legacy.”
If anything, Adams’ situation is a cautionary tale. Talent alone isn’t enough. In the NFL, timing, culture, quarterback play, and coaching stability all matter just as much. In Green Bay, he had all of that. In Las Vegas, the foundation was shaky from the start, and it’s only gotten worse.
Ultimately, regret is a complex thing in professional sports. Adams got paid. He got to live closer to home. He even got to briefly play with his college friend. But as the Raiders continue to spin their wheels, it’s hard not to look at his situation and wonder “what if?”
What if he’d stayed in Green Bay? What if he’d joined Rodgers in New York? What if he’d prioritized winning over familiarity?
For now, Davante Adams remains a Raider. But his patience is wearing thin, and unless Las Vegas can turn things around fast — or give him a path to contend elsewhere — regret may soon give way to something more permanent: departure.
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