Davante Adams to Steelers: Could it really happen?

Davante Adams has asked the Raiders to trade him, the Raiders are open to trading him and the Steelers are open to trading for a wide receiver. At least we can reasonably assume that this is the case. After all, they almost traded for Brandon Aiyuk, so let’s not pretend they’re not in the market.

So far this season, aside from one catch, the wide receivers outside of George Pickens haven’t made major contributions. Davante Adams isn’t exploding with All-Pro numbers right now, but he also missed a game. And he averages about the same yards per game as Pickens did for the Steelers.

But Adams also has a big, fat contract, including the prorated portion of a base salary of $16,890,000 this year. The Steelers could do that if they really want him, but he’s also scheduled for 2025 and 2026 at $35,640,000 each.

First things first: What is Davante Adams worth and what is it worth to the Steelers? Even at 31 years old, he is still a very talented player. He went 103-1, 1448 last year and scored 14 touchdowns in 2022. Only one player in Steelers history has ever done that in a season, and he did it once: Antonio Brown.

Adams has scored double-digit touchdowns in six seasons compared to four below, and he has missed at least three games in two of those four seasons in which he failed to reach that mark. Sure, he benefited from playing with Aaron Rodgers, but he could really help the Steelers. Justin Fields needs a reliable guy who can effortlessly open up what they don’t have.

Of course, there is no doubt that the Steelers will be better if they add Davante Adams to this roster. But the Raiders are reportedly looking for a second-round pick Plus additional compensation. They don’t understand that, but how far are they willing to deviate from it? I’m sure they’ll relax their demands as the trade deadline approaches, and that’s when the Steelers pick up the phone.

If the Steelers were to sign Adams in a trade, it would be hard to imagine they would view it as a long-term pact, and not just because of his age (soon to be 32). His upcoming salaries are simply too high for a player who is on the back end of his career. Perhaps he could agree to lower his fee for 2025 if they are open to it. But they pursued Aiyuk because he would have been their future, still young and early in his career. That’s not the case here with Adams, and the Steelers and all other interested parties know it.

The Steelers’ 2024 season is underway after another disappointing year that ended with a first-round playoff loss. They’ve had a long offseason since the Buffalo Bills put them out of their misery in January. There are positive signs, but things could get out of hand at any moment.

The biggest question on the team’s mind is the quarterback question. Will Russell Wilson get his job back when he’s healthy or will Justin Fields steal it?? How will the team proceed? the depth chartthat is surprisingly still changing?

After weeks of camp and preseason games, the regular season is here. The Steelers made numerous moves through signings and trades – and releases. More than usual, they seemed more comfortable creating holes and confident in their ability to fill them. Some were able to fill them, others not so much. However, now that we have so many pieces to the puzzle, we just need to ask a new set of questions.