When the Las Vegas Raiders traded for Davante Adams in 2022, quarterback Derek Carr was a major driving force behind the move. Their bond, forged during their college days at Fresno State, was key to bringing the All-Pro wide receiver to Vegas. But the reunion was short-lived, as Carr was benched and then cut after just 15 games. Now, with Adams reportedly seeking a trade, there’s speculation about a potential reunion—this time with the New Orleans Saints.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Saints are one of the teams Adams is eyeing. Carr, who has remained quiet about the trade chatter, finally addressed the rumors on October 3, hinting at how much he’d welcome the idea. “I think all 32 quarterbacks would love to play with Davante. We would welcome that,” Carr said, acknowledging the obvious appeal of reuniting with his former teammate. “I don’t know if I can get in trouble for saying that… I would obviously welcome playing with him again if that ever worked out in our careers.”
Carr and Adams enjoyed personal success in their lone season together in Las Vegas, with Adams putting up an impressive 1,500 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Yet despite those individual stats, the team only won six games. Carr admitted that while the pairing didn’t lead to victories, their on-field connection was still strong. “The narrative that it didn’t work out is correct because we didn’t win as many games,” Carr admitted. “But when it comes to getting him the ball and him scoring a lot of touchdowns, I think it went pretty good.”
Despite their chemistry, Carr was benched by head coach Josh McDaniels, who has since been widely criticized for his handling of the team. With Adams reportedly unhappy in Las Vegas and the Raiders continuing to flounder under McDaniels’ leadership, the possibility of Adams reuniting with Carr in New Orleans is now on the table.
However, there are obstacles. The Saints are already tight against the salary cap, making a trade for Adams difficult. While the Raiders could absorb some of the financial burden, it would likely require New Orleans to part with significant draft capital in return. Plus, with the Saints boasting the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL right now, they may not feel the urgency to shake up their roster just to add another star receiver.
Carr, for his part, is staying focused on the present. “Business stuff, we don’t even talk about it,” he said, steering clear of fueling trade rumors. He’s well aware that the Raiders are unlikely to prioritize his preferences, especially given the contentious way his departure from Las Vegas unfolded. The Raiders could have traded Carr to the Saints earlier, but the quarterback refused to waive his no-trade clause, forcing the team to cut him instead. Now, the Raiders will likely send Adams to the highest bidder, with no consideration for reuniting him with Carr.
As the trade deadline looms, one thing is certain: the speculation around Adams’ future will only intensify. Whether he ends up in New Orleans or elsewhere, Carr’s comments have reignited the buzz, and fans will be watching closely to see if the former dynamic duo can find their way back onto the same team.
