Davante Adams Fuels Trade Buzz: 'Don't Got Time to Just Wait' as Raiders Open 1-2

The Las Vegas Raiders are 1-2, and Davante Adams is putting his team on notice.

Adams fueled trade speculation after Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, telling reporters he doesn't "have time to wait" for the team to turn around its struggles.

"I don't act like it's all crazy—it's Week 3—but I don't got time to wait around," Adams said. "It's not a personal thing—I mean, it is a personal thing—but it ain't just about me. ... We're not doing things the right way to establish a winning culture early in the season."

ESPN's Dan Graziano predicted before the season opener that Adams' name would come up in trade rumors this season if the Raiders got off to a slow start. The All-Pro has been clear about wanting to win after suffering through a 6-11 campaign in his first year with Las Vegas.

Adams forced a trade to the Raiders last offseason for an individual reason: He wanted to prove he could still be a superstar without Aaron Rodgers. It didn't take long for him to prove he could do just that, as Adams compiled 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and an NFL-high 14 touchdowns.

"That's why [last] season meant a lot," Adams told Mirin Fader of The Ringer. "Even if I went and played like dog s--t [this] year, they can't say it. Because now I've already proved it throughout the course of a season, played every game, and put together a résumé that says I do not need … You can erase all the numbers. You can just write in: He didn't need Aaron Rodgers."

That said, Adams also made it clear his desire for individual accolades is over after earning first-team All-Pro status in 2022. He's intently aware that he's in the sunset of his prime and much closer to retirement than the beginning of his career.

The 30-year-old's focus has now shifted to a more team-oriented goal: hoisting a Lombardi trophy. Adams' confidence in the current Raiders' brain trust in accomplishing that goal did not seem particularly high during his conversations with Fader.

"[The front office] think this is the best bet for us right now to put us in a position to be urgent," Adams said in May. "We don't see eye-to-eye on what we think is best for us right now."

Adams' individual performance continues to be brilliant, as he's compiled 25 receptions for 322 yards and three touchdowns in three games. But the Raiders are 1-2, and Garoppolo has already thrown six interceptions—not exactly the type of performance that's going to give Adams confidence the front office is making the right calls.