Former Jets QB not buying trade denials from Raiders' Davante Adams

Former New York Jets quarterback and current NFL analyst Boomer Esiason isn't buying that star Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams will stay put through the start of the 2024 season.

"This is all politics and image-conscious stuff," Esiason said during Wednesday's edition of the WFAN "Boomer and Gio" program about Adams and his camp attempting to pour cold water over trade rumors, as shared by Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "I think he enjoys playing for the Raiders and living in Vegas. But Randy Moss said it. You gotta chase the ring. After you get your money, it becomes, 'How can I cement my legacy?'"

On Tuesday, Adams' agents said via a statement that their client "is expected to be with the Raiders as there has been absolutely no trade talk - period." On the latest edition of the "Club Shay Shay" podcast that was released on Wednesday, Adams insisted he is "locked in with the Raiders" and feels "good about this team" heading into training camp.

As for Esiason, he shared on Monday that the Jets trading for Adams could happen "somewhere in late August" or "early September." Esiason then confidently predicted on Tuesday "that Davante Adams will be a Jet" before Week 1 of the upcoming season.

During Wednesday's show, Esiason suggested that Adams would rather catch passes thrown by Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers than play with either 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell or journeyman Gardner Minshew of the Raiders. Adams and Rodgers were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2014-21.

"Davante Adams is scheduled to make (roughly) $36M next year," Esiason explained. "The way that the contract was written...the Raiders would either have to redo the contract or cut him next year. So why would the Raiders - who are not going anywhere this year, are not anywhere remotely close to being a Super Bowl team - why would they want to hold on to a Hall of Fame wide receiver who I think wants out of there?"

Rodgers seems to understand that he, general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh could be shown the door by Jets owner Woody Johnson if the franchise's playoff drought extends to 14 consecutive seasons. That reality, coupled with whatever Esiason is hearing from the Jets, has the one-time Most Valuable Player convinced that Gang Green will land Adams before the club's regular-season opener at the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9.