Browns Likely To Inquire On Raiders’ Davante Adams; Jets Viewed As Frontrunners
To no surprise, several potential suitors have emerged for Davante Adams. The Raiders All-Pro is on board with a trade, and Vegas has begun reaching out to teams which could be interested in acquiring him midway through the campaign. 
The Browns should also be labeled as a candidate to add Adams, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com writes. Sitting at 1-3 on the year, the team has work to do on offense to contend for a postseason berth. Adding a premier wideout would certainly help in that regard, although the status of Amari Cooper would become a key factor in any serious Adams pursuit on the part of the Browns.
Cooper’s short- and long-term future was a talking point during the offseason, one in which he agreed to a revised contract. The pending free agent was part of the Browns’ offer to the 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk, but the second-team All-Pro did not want to be dealt to Cleveland. As such, Cooper has remained atop the team’s WR depth chart in 2024, his third season since being dealt by the Cowboys. The 2022 and ’23 campaigns resulted in a total of 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns, showcasing the former first-rounder’s continued ability to operate as a No. 1 receiver.
Cooper’s contract status makes him a logical candidate to be dealt ahead of the 2024 deadline (November 5), especially if the Browns are unable to rebound from their poor start. Adams will require a reworked deal upon arrival with a new team, however, and any long-term commitments from Cleveland will need to keep in mind the outstanding compensation due to quarterback Deshaun Watson. Two years remain on Watson’s deal, and all of his remaining money is fully guaranteed. Cleveland made a notable receiver addition in the spring by trading for and extending Jerry Jeudy; the former Broncos first-rounder is on the books through 2027.
Elsewhere on the Adams front, both The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and veteran insider Jordan Schultz report the Jets are seen around the league as the frontrunner to finalize a trade. New York represents an obvious landing spot given the mutual interest in a reunion between Adams and former Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers. The pair spent eight years together in Green Bay, and both spoke during the offseason about the possibility of teaming up with the Jets.
As expected, New York is one of the teams which has called about Adams’ availability in a deal. The Raiders – believed to want a compensation package beginning with a second-round pick – have also been linked to the Bills, Saints and Steelers regarding a trade for the six-time Pro Bowler. The Cowboys are not expected to pursue Adams, although Vegas should still have a number of offers to choose from in the near future. Further details have emerged regarding how the situation has reached this point.
Adams was away from the Raiders during training camp due to the birth of his first son. He was absent for 10 days, a period which Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes was longer than the team expected (subscription required). Upon return, Adams made it clear he preferred not to play in Vegas’ second preseason contest. Head coach Antonio Pierce replied that he expected the three-time All-Pro to play if healthy. Adams was listed as injured one day later.
As the Fresno State product rehabs the legitimate hamstring injury which sidelined him for Week 4, Pierce remains at the center of this ongoing saga. The first-year head coach liked an Instagram post suggesting Adams would be dealt, something which sparked the latest round of speculation regarding a move being made. When asked to comment on the matter, Pierce declined (h/t Tafur).
Healthy or otherwise, Adams could easily find himself out of the lineup for Week 5 as the Raiders seek out a suitable trade agreement. The relationship between Adams and Pierce has been strained recently, and a change of scenery for the former could be beneficial to all involved. It will be interesting to see how the trade market emerges over the coming days.
Jets, Cowboys Inquire On Raiders’ Davante Adams; Bills, Saints, Steelers In Mix
Early in the Davante Adams market, the obvious trade suitor does look to be readying a pursuit. Linked to the wide receiver since acquiring Aaron Rodgers, the Jets are in on the disgruntled Raiders wide receiver.
They have reached out to the Raiders on Adams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who adds the Cowboys have done the same in what may be a drawn-out sweepstakes. Adams also would be interested in joining the Jets, as veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz indicates they are one of his preferred destinations.
Rodgers has been lobbying the Jets to make the move, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, who indicates teams beyond New York and Dallas are expected to be part of this derby. It is not known how interested other teams are just yet, but Pauline notes the Bills, Saints and Steelers join the Jets in being the most interested parties presently.
Seeking a package worth a second-round pick and change, the Raiders are prepared to wait. While Adams wants out now and has been frustrated about his situation dating back to the Raiders’ Jimmy Garoppolo signing, the team has more than a month until this year’s trade deadline, which was moved back one week — to November 5 — via an offseason vote. It appears unlikely Adams will suit up before that point.
As the Raiders seek a second-rounder-headlined package, Pauline floats that a first-round choice being put on the table would move the deal across the goal line. Though, Adams is a high-priced player who will turn 32 before season’s end. Still, he probably will be the top wide receiver available ahead of this year’s deadline.
Despite looming as an obvious trade candidate dating back to last season, Adams had repeatedly indicated he did not want to be moved. That has since changed, with the situation escalating. Antonio Pierce liking an Instagram post about a potential Adams trade has apparently catalyzed these proceedings. Adams officially requested a trade Monday, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. Pierce is set to address this situation later today, but Schultz adds Adams’ camp approached the Raiders about a potential trade last season but stopped short of an official request. Adams played out the season, but the Raiders have drifted further away from the championship radar, which Pauline notes is a lead factor in the WR wanting out.
Adams has appeared out of place in Las Vegas, with the team’s decision to jettison Derek Carr one season into the wide receiver’s tenure planting seeds for this relationship’s deterioration. After spending his entire Green Bay career with Rodgers, Adams has seen the Raiders cycle through a few QBs. The Garoppolo fit, as Netflix’s Receiver showed, proved the most problematic. But the Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew stopgaps — as a Pierce-driven effort to trade up for Jayden Daniels did not come close to fruition — leave the 11th-year wideout in limbo. Teams have undoubtedly observed this as well, and this trade request will ignite one of the most interesting trade races in recent memory.
As the Bills, Saints, Steelers and Cowboys loom as well, the obvious issue that would impede a fit with the Chiefs will make such a move a nonstarter. Kansas City is not expected be an option for Vegas re: Adams, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. While the Chiefs are suddenly in need of a difference-making receiver after losing Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, the Raiders being division rivals will not lead to any traction with Adams.
The Saints would appeal to Adams, Schefter adds. This would again reunite Adams with Carr, his longtime friend and former Fresno State teammate. New Orleans is 2-2, thanks to two impressive wins and two narrow losses, and a need for a wideout presence alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed has existed dating back to the offseason. New Orleans only holds $2.8MM in cap space, but GM Mickey Loomis has proven adept at working around such hindrances. Adams also counts Saints wide receivers coach Keith Williams, who has been the receiver’s personal coach in the offseason, as a mentor, Schefter adds.
The Bills are also near the bottom in cap space, at $3.7MM. The Raiders can also pick up some of Adams’ base salary (a prorated $16.9MM) to improve trade compensation. Buffalo has attempted to play four weeks without a No. 1-level wide receiver, though Khalil Shakir has been effective and second-rounder Keon Coleman has shown promise. The Bills were in on DeAndre Hopkins before trading Stefon Diggs in 2023, however, and should be expected to kick the tires on receivers before the deadline. The Steelers memorably missed out on Brandon Aiyuk, despite agreeing to trade parameters with the 49ers. Adams would fit on an offense that features only one eight-figure-per-year contract (Pat Freiermuth‘s recent extension). While the Steelers are not known for splashy WR acquisitions, the Aiyuk pursuit shows they were ready to change that reputation.
Dallas has been lacking in CeeDee Lamb support since trading Amari Cooper, with its long-running Odell Beckham Jr. pursuit in 2022 and subsequent Brandin Cooks trade highlighting interest in augmenting its WR situation. Cooks and Adams were 2014 draft classmates, though the latter has proven to be a higher-tier receiver. He would certainly help a team that, thanks to the Lamb and Dak Prescott extensions, carries $23.8MM in cap space. The Cowboys have not shown interest in acquiring high-profile vets at other positions this season, but they appear willing to consider making an exception for Adams.
Circling back to the Jets, their HC-GM combo being on a hot seat — along with the perception this is currently a Rodgers-centric operation — makes them an obvious suitor. It would surprise if the team did not make an aggressive move here, even after signing Mike Williams in March. Rodgers said this summer he was eager to play with his former No. 1 target again, and the QB has not formed strong chemistry with Garrett Wilson just yet. The Jets carry $16.8MM in cap space.
This quintet each making an offer would strengthen the Raiders’ position, and 2025 draft capital would help the franchise’s 2025 QB pursuit. Adams will become $970K cheaper for a team to acquire as the weeks pass — on a contract featuring two high nonguaranteed 2025 and ’26 salaries ($35.6MM, $36.6MM) — and this may well be the top trade sweepstakes to monitor over the next month.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Practice window opened: T Christian Jones
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: LB Nathaniel Watson
Green Bay Packers
- Practice window opened: DT Jonathan Ford
Houston Texans
- Practice window opened: DT Kurt Hinish
Las Vegas Raiders
- Practice window opened: S Trey Taylor
New York Giants
- Practice window opened: LB Matthew Adams
Miami Dolphins
- Practice window opened: CB Cam Smith
New England Patriots
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: WR Kendrick Bourne, LB Sione Takitaki (story)
- Practice window opened: S Marte Mapu
New York Jets
- Practice window opened: DT Leki Fotu
- Released from IR: LB Brandon Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: RB Aaron Shampklin
- Practice window opened: LB Jeremiah Moon
San Francisco 49ers
- Practice window opened: DL Kalia Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return from PUP list: DT Cameron Young
Today marks most teams’ first practice before Week 5, making it the first date players stashed on IR as teams set their initial 53-man rosters can work out again with their teams. This year’s IR tweak allowed teams to designate up to two players for return August 27, the catch being all players who receive that designation count toward their respective club’s eight-activation total. The batch included in today’s minor moves post consists entirely of players to receive that August IR-return designation.
The IR-return window is unchanged, however, with teams having 21 days from Wednesday to activate these players. Anyone from today’s group not being activated from IR by October 23 must miss the rest of the season. PFR will keep track of all players returning from IR via the Injured Reserve Return Tracker.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/24
Minor transactions and practice squad callups for the Week 4 weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: DT Angelo Blackson, T Charlie Heck
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: G Matt Hennessy
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: RB Chris Collier
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Thomas Incoom, DE DeShawn Williams
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: DT Byron Cowart, S Tarvarius Moore
- Placed on IR: TE Stephen Carlson (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: CB Tony Brown, TE Geoff Swaim
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey, S Tanner McCalister
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Kamal Hadden, CB Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Elevated: RB J.J. Taylor
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DT Adam Gotsis, CB David Long
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed to active roster: TE Josiah Deguara
- Elevated: CB Christian Braswell, LB Tanner Muse
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: TE John Samuel Shenker
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
- Waived: WR Ramel Keyton
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: LB Blake Lynch, C Sam Mustipher
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: WR Xavier Smith, CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: OLB Bo Richter, TE Robert Tonyan
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: CB Isaiah Bolden
- Elevated: DT Trysten Hill, TE Mitchell Wilcox
- Placed on IR: CB Alex Austin
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: G Kyle Hergel
New York Jets
- Elevated: DT Bruce Hector, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: WR Parris Campbell, WR John Ross
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Thomas Graham Jr., RB Aaron Shampklin
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: DE Sam Okuayinonu
- Elevated: DT Evan Anderson, S Jaylen Mahoney
- Placed on IR: DT Javon Hargrave (story), LB Curtis Robinson (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: P Trenton Gill, WR Sterling Shepard
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DE Andre Jones Jr., RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/24
Friday’s practice squad transactions:
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Anthony Hines
- Placed on practice squad IR: LB Brandon Smith
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Quinton Bohanna
- Released: CB Tyler Hall
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT McTelvin Agim
OL Rumors: Patriots, Moses, Cards, 49ers
The Patriots entered training camp with significant questions along their offensive line; those have not been answered, as the team continues to delay Drake Maye‘s debut. This could set up a historically rare succession at the game’s highest-profile O-line position. The Pats may be on the verge of starting a fourth left tackle in four games to open the season. Demontrey Jacobs, who went to camp with the Broncos before becoming a Patriots waiver claim, worked at LT alongside the other first-string blockers during the parts of Wednesday and Thursday’s practices open to media, the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed notes.
Injuries and Chukwuma Okorafor leaving the team put the Pats in this bind. They have used Okorafor, Vederian Lowe and rookie third-rounder Caedan Wallace at LT over the first three weeks. Lowe and Wallace injuries brought Jacobs into the fray against the Jets. Part of Denver’s 2023 UDFA class, Jacobs had not played in a regular-season game until last week. Wallace has gotten in two limited practices, potentially allowing the Pats to prevent this 4-for-4 turnstyle on Jacoby Brissett‘s blind side, but Lowe remains out ahead of a 49ers matchup.
Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:
- Remaining in the AFC East, the Jets intend to go week to week with their right tackle. Morgan Moses sustained an MCL sprain and bone bruise and will miss a few weeks, but Robert Saleh confirmed the Jets will not park their RT starter on IR. Moses has been a dependable player throughout his career, missing only three games over the past 10 seasons. It will be worth wondering if the veteran reacquires his job upon returning, as the Jets will throw first-round pick Olu Fashanu into action. Fashanu had been drafted to initially provide insurance for Moses and fellow 33-year-old blocker Tyron Smith, before moving into a long-term starting role. Will the Penn State product play well enough to avoid being sent back to the bench?
- The Cardinals are using a backup right tackle as well, plugging in Kelvin Beachum after Jonah Williams‘ Week 1 injury. Williams is on IR due to a knee injury, and Beachum missed Week 3 with a hamstring malady. Formerly a long-term starter for the Steelers, Jets and Cardinals, Beachum returned to practice but is in his age-35 season. The Cardinals worked out another 30-something tackle this week, bringing in Cameron Erving, per Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer. The Texans had cut the former first-round pick from their practice squad injured list recently, but the nine-year vet does not look to have needed much time to recover. The Cardinals started former seventh-round pick Jackson Barton in Beachum’s place in Week 3.
- GM Monti Ossenfort had said a D.J. Humphries reunion could commence down the road, despite the second-year Cardinals regime cutting the longtime left tackle early this offseason. But the former first-round pick is not ready to return from injury just yet. He is still potentially several weeks away from medical clearance, Balzer adds. Humphries, 30, started eight seasons for the Cardinals — seven at left tackle, one at right tackle — went down during the team’s Week 17 win over the Eagles.
- Beaten out for the 49ers‘ right guard job after seeing extensive time there from 2022-23, Spencer Burford is seeing some reps at a new position. The 49ers are trying the third-year blocker at tackle, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. This is due to San Francisco having just three tackles — Trent Williams, Colton McKivitz, Jaylon Moore — on their 53-man roster, with one of those (Williams) being 36. It is interesting this effort is only commencing now, as Williams’ holdout lasted more than a month. Burford, who now backs up third-round rookie Dominick Puni, played guard and tackle at Texas-San Antonio.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/24/24
Here are Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: LB Joe Evans
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Alex Cook, Justin Hardee
- Released: OLB Eku Leota
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Teagan Quitoriano
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DB Morice Norris
Green Bay Packers
- Released: TE Johnny Lumpkin
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson, DE Derek Rivers
- Placed on IR: QB Jason Bean
- Released: CB Kelvin Joseph
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: TE Luke Benson, CB Nehemiah Shelton
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR John Jiles
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Joel Wilson
- Placed on IR: TE Lawrence Cager
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Brandon Smith
- Released: S Jaylen Key
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR John Ross
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Marcus Haynes
- Released: TE Matt Sokol
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Tracy Walker
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Ty Hall, DT Matt Gotel
- Placed on IR: RB George Holani
- Released: S Marquise Blair
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: P Trenton Gill, CB Keenan Isaac
- Released: P Seth Vernon
This year’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant,’ Key did not make the Jets’ initial 53-man roster. The 24-year-old was retained via the practice squad, but he did not see any regular season action. Now a free agent, Key will look to latch on with another organization.
Ross signed with the Eagles in May as part of his bid to return to the NFL. The former Combine 40-yard dash record holder was released during roster cutdowns, however, after he was unable to carve out a depth role on offense. Ross will rejoin the team in a bid to provide Philadelphia with a complementary receiving option as the team deals with a number of injuries at the WR spot.
Jets Sign DB Jalen Mills To Practice Squad
The Jets are adding some depth to their secondary. The team is signing defensive back Jalen Mills to the practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Jets are plenty familiar with Mills after he spent the past three seasons with their division rival in New England. Mills played a handful of different roles during his time with the Patriots. After spending his first two years with the team as a cornerback, he spent the 2023 campaign at safety. He only graded 75th among 95 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus, and the Patriots ultimately decided to move on this past offseason.
Mills caught on with the Giants back in March but spent most of his stint with the team on the NFI. He was cut by the Giants in August and has spent the first few weeks of the regular season unsigned.
While Mills struggled last season, there’s a chance he still has something left in the tank. The veteran got into 90 percent of his team’s defensive snaps as recently as 2021, and he was a staple of Doug Pederson‘s defense during his time in Philly (where he won a Super Bowl in 2017 as a starting CB). Current Jets GM Joe Douglas was in Philly’s front office for much of Mills’ tenure in Philly, so the executive is probably plenty familiar with what he’s getting.
It’s uncertain exactly where Mills would fit in New York. The team is locked in at cornerback with Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II, and safeties Chuck Clark and Tony Adams have barely missed any snaps this season. Most likely, Mills will provide the Jets with some veteran insurance in the likely chance that an injury pops up.
Jets Notes: Reddick, Carter, Johnson
Three weeks into the season, Haason Reddick has still not reported to the Jets. Team and player remain at a stalemate with no signs of a resolution being imminent.
Acquired via trade this offseason, Reddick received at least one offer for a new deal from New York (albeit one which was below market value). He attended an introductory press conference on April 1 but has not been with the team since. The 30-year-old has angled for an extension while the Jets have been amenable to a restructure including incentives for 2024, the final year of his contract. Before Reddick reports, however, no agreement will be reached.
As the two-time Pro Bowler’s financial penalties continue to accumulate, it remains to be seen how the Jets will proceed. Jermaine Johnson‘s Achilles tear has left the team shorthanded along the edge, although that injury has not produced movement on the Reddick front. As a result, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes a trade sending the sack artist elsewhere remains a likelier outcome than an agreement allowing him to play out his deal in New York. Reddick requested a move last month, but GM Joe Douglas quickly rejected it.
Here are some other Jets-related notes:
- Slot corner Michael Carter II has been dealing with an ankle injury, and a full recovery does not appear to be in store any time soon. The 25-year-old’s ailment will be a season-long issue, head coach Robert Saleh said (via Graziano’s colleague Rich Cimini). Carter could find himself in and out of the lineup during games as a result, although he logged a season-high 73% snap share in Week 3. The former fifth-rounder landed a three-year, $30.75MM extension earlier this month.
- Johnson faces a long rehab process due to his aforementioned Achilles tear. Fortunately, his surgery was a success, as the 25-year-old confirmed on social media. Johnson will miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign, and he will probably be on the mend for much of the subsequent offseason as well. Expectations were high for the Florida State product after his Pro Bowl year in 2023, but attention will now turn to his progress in returning to full health.
- On another injury note, quarterback Aaron Rodgers noted in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer that he was not able to run late last season. The four-time MVP attempted to recover from his own Achilles tear in time for the end of his debut New York campaign, but that effort ended when it became clear the Jets would not make the playoffs. Rodgers’ mobility will remain a question given his age (41 in December), but his play so far – in particular during Thursday’s win over the Patriots – has quelled concerns from a health standpoint.
Jets RT Morgan Moses Facing Multi-Week Absence
TODAY, 10:35am: After undergoing “a battery of tests” on his injured knee, it’s been determined that Moses will only miss two to four weeks, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The veteran lineman has officially been diagnosed with an MCL sprain and a bone bruise.
FRIDAY, 12:55pm: The Jets’ offensive line suffered a blow during Thursday night’s win. Right tackle Morgan Moses is dealing with a knee injury which is set to keep him sidelined for a stretch. 
Head coach Robert Saleh said the team was confident the worst-case scenario had been avoided when speaking about Moses’ status (h/t ESPN’s Rich Cimini). Further testing is still required, but veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports the 33-year-old is currently expected to miss “at least” a couple weeks due to the injury. Encouragingly, Schultz adds surgery will likely not be required.
The worst-case scenario has thus been avoided, but Moses’ absence will leave the Jets in need of a change to the starting lineup up front. First-round rookie Olu Fashanu is now set to handle a first-team role after spending time in the summer working at both tackle spots. The Penn State product was selected as a successor to Tyron Smith on the blindside, but the former Cowboys All-Pro has played every snap to date with his new team.
Moses began his career in Washington before a one-year stint with the Jets. The former third-rounder inked a free agent deal with the Ravens in 2022, and he served as the team’s full-time right tackle starter through the end of last season. With one year remaining on his pact, Baltimore dealt Moses back to New York in March as part of the Ravens’ youth movement up front.
The Virginia product has drawn a career-worst 51.2 PFF grade through three weeks, a steep decline from his past evaluations. He will aim to rebound once healthy, but for the time being Fashanu will be counted on to provide stable play at the right tackle spot while the Jets attempt to build off the momentum of a 2-1 start. It will be interesting to see if injured reserve (which would require a four-game absence) is deemed necessary for Moses once a full evaluation takes place.