Davante Adams Reveals 49ers' Contract Stance, 'I'm Not a Wholesale-Type Dude'

Before Davante Adams signed with the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers made a pitch to the six-time Pro Bowler but not at the price he was looking for.

Speaking to The Athletic's Michael Silver, Adams said, "I'm not a wholesale-type dude" in discussing the 49ers trying to get him to sign a lower-cost contract.

"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.'"

When Adams was released by the New York Jets in March, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted teams on the west coast were going to have a real "pull" for him.

The 49ers were among the clubs expected to have interest in Adams, but their approach in free agency signaled a bit of an organizational reset coming off a disappointing 6-11 record last season.

Adams signed a two-year, $44 million contract that included $26 million in total guarantees with the Rams.

San Francisco lost 17 players via free agency, trades and releases just in the first week of the new league year that started on March 12.

Per CBS Sports' Douglas Clawson, the 49ers' $284 million free-agent spending deficit was the largest in NFL history by $80 million. Their largest free-agent contract given out this offseason was to tight end Luke Farrell (three years, $15.8 million).

It shouldn't be a surprise the 49ers were trying to get a discount price for Adams. He's still a productive player, but it's fair to wonder when the bottom might drop out now that he's 32 years old.

The Niners seem to be going with a youth movement in 2025 after having the fifth-oldest roster in the NFL by snap-weighted age last season. Their 11 picks in this year's draft are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for most in the league.

San Francisco needs to replenish its roster talent after the lack of depth really showed up in 2024 amid a rash of injuries to several key players.

The Rams, on the other hand, offer Adams a ready-made Super Bowl contender at this late stage of his career. They won the NFC West last season and put up a good fight in the NFC Divisional Round against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 28-22 loss.