Getty Images The Cleveland Browns could do Deshaun Watson a big favor and make a move for disgruntled Raiders All-Pro WR Davante Adams.
Davante Adams appears unhappy with the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Cleveland Browns have been named as one of the teams who could take a run at the All-Pro pass-catcher with a blockbuster trade.
The Raiders are 1-2 and have quarterback issues. The franchise parted ways with Derek Carr — who was a good friend and college teammate of Adams — this offseason, replacing him with Jimmy Garoppolo.
Now, Garoppolo is in concussion protocol and 37-year-old veteran Brian Hoyer would be in line to start.
“I don’t want to act like it’s all crazy. It’s Week 3, but I don’t got time to wait around,” Adams told reporters following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. “It’s not a personal thing. I mean, it is a personal thing, but it ain’t just about me. It’s not my mentality to take all season to try and figure it out — to use these early games like this to establish an identity. And we’re not doing things the right way to establish a winning culture early in the season. We gotta do something to turn that around.”
There would be some cap considerations the Raiders would have to weigh if it came to trading Adams, but things could go south if it becomes apparent they can’t compete for a playoff spot.
Browns Named Landing Spot for Davante Adams Via Trade
Matt Lombardo of FanBuzz labeled the Browns as one of six teams who could make a move for Adams if he ended up being shopped by Las Vegas.
“The Browns have gone all-in on quarterback Deshaun Watson, with inconsistent returns thus far, and must find a way to replace the production lost by running back Nick Chubb suffering a season-ending knee injury,” Lombardo wrote on September 26. “Enter Adams, and a commitment to the vertical passing game.”
The Browns entered the season with the passing game in focus, transitioning from their run-heavy, multiple tight end sets of the past. Chubb’s season-ending injury has expedited that process and Watson responded with one of his best games as a member of the Browns in a 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 3.
Watson completed a whopping 82% of his passes — which was the second best mark of his career — for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
Browns Need Weapons to Keep Pace With AFC Contenders
Thanks to a stellar defense and Watson’s reemergence, the Browns have established themselves as a real contender in the AFC. But if they want to take the next step, they need more proven scoring threats for Watson to work with.
Amari Cooper (17 catches for 243) has been solid, and the addition of Elijah Moore (15 catches, 128 yards) has been a nice new wrinkle. However, Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Bell have combined for just eight receptions and no other receiver has recorded a catch.
The top teams around the league have dangerous duos, Lombardo wrote, and Adams would put the Browns among them — and depth would no longer be a problem.
“Miami, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Philadelphia with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and Seattle, with Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, have all shown the value in surrounding a quarterback with productive and prolific receiver duos,” Lombardo wrote. “If the Browns want to elevate Watson and build an offense capable of keeping pace with the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Bills in the AFC, adding Adams would make a lot of sense.”
The Browns sit at 2-1 and host the Baltimore Ravens on October 1.