Davante Adams trashes 49ers' free agency pitch and shares why a rival team gave him what San Francisco couldn't
When Davante Adams was released by the New York Jets, he became a true free agent for the first time in his NFL career. There were several options to choose from, including two NFC West teams. The San Francisco 49ers were in contention to add the star wide receiver, but he ended up with the […]
When Davante Adams was released by the New York Jets, he became a true free agent for the first time in his NFL career. There were several options to choose from, including two NFC West teams. The San Francisco 49ers were in contention to add the star wide receiver, but he ended up with the Los Angeles Rams.
Both teams are in the West Coast, are functional franchises, and can compete to be in the playoff mix. As expected, it came down to money—and Adams' revelations in an interview to The Athletic took the situation to a more extreme level.
"I was entertaining the Niners," Adams said. "But they were like, 'We're paying wholesale. We ain't paying retail.' I didn't talk to them, but that's what my agent told me—like five times, that quote. And I was like, 'OK, well, I'm not a wholesale-type dude.'"
Davante Adams signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the Rams, with $26 million fully guaranteed at signing.
Despite his age—he will be 33 in December—Adams still believes he can play at a high level. Which, in fairness, he did last season. In 11 games for the New York Jets, the receiver had 67 catches, 854 yards, and seven touchdowns.
"I haven't lost any speed—which, you know, I didn't come into the league as a burner, so people weren't looking to see a 4.2 turn into 4.5. I was high 4.4s coming in, and I'm running the same speeds now. Whether it's the GPS, or if I could line up and run a 40 right now, I'd probably run a faster 40 than I ran when I was 21 years old. And obviously, I mean, the proof is in the pudding. I don't need to tell you what I can still do or not."
At the wide receiver position, the 49ers traded Deebo Samuel away to the Washington Commanders and signed Demarcus Robinson, exactly from the Rams. The only other loss was Chris Conley, who is still available in free agency.
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