It’s no secret that the Detroit Lions have several issues with their receiving corps heading into the 2024 campaign, a season in which the team has a legitimate chance to win a Super Bowl. Not only do the Lions have questionable depth, but their starters are also a concern.
Detroit’s No. 2 Jameson Williams remains unproven after two years in the NFL, and Kalif Raymond is currently projected to be the primary outside receiver, but he’s not your prototypical X, and head coach Dan Campbell prefers not to play too many snaps on him he is there so that he can be free to do other things.
Knowing that, Ian Valentino of Team 33 made an interesting trade proposal to the Lions that allows them to acquire star receiver Davante Adams from the The Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Williams and a 2025 second-round pick.
Here are Valentino’s thoughts on the proposal:
Adams is still incredibly good despite his age. He has four straight seasons of 1,100+ yards and eight+ touchdowns despite playing in Las Vegas the last two years. We need to keep Adams from playing in Vegas for another year, and Detroit’s explosive offense is the best way to maximize the rest of his career.
Detroit’s cap situation is healthy enough to absorb Adams’ $16 million base salary right now, and a small reduction in the future would make this deal acceptable. He has no guarantees beyond this season, so a restructuring could also make his contract more favorable.
In exchange, the Raiders pocket $17.5 million in 2024, then more than $36 million in 2025 and 2026. Taking a risk Jameson Williams This is what allows this agreement to cross the finish line.
This trade doesn’t solve the Lions’ depth issues behind their starters, but it’s the kind of move Detroit should consider making. Sure, losing a second-round pick is never ideal, but no one will care if Adams, who offers a much safer option than Williams, helps Detroit win a Super Bowl.
It is true that Adams had a low season in 2023But it wasn’t really his fault and it wasn’t the result of a decline. The 31-year-old had a terrible time at quarterback, catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Aidan O’Connell. Still, Adams had 103 receptions for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns.
Adams has always there are still two years left on his contract after this one, so he wouldn’t just be a rental player. However, with no guaranteed money left on those two years, the Lions would likely have to rework his contract to keep him happy.
While it’s highly unlikely the Raiders will trade Adams before the start of the season, it’s a deal they’ll undoubtedly have to consider.
A second-round pick, a young receiver like Williams and more salary cap flexibility is a great combination for a Las Vegas team that has a new general manager in Tom Telesco, who must keep an eye on a future that likely won’t include Adams.
