While the Minnesota Vikings aren't currently believed to be a possible Davante Adams trade destination, the Detroit Lions were recently mentioned by a notable NFL insider as a potential landing spot for the veteran Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver.
Adams reportedly wants the Raiders to trade him, and following this news, ESPN's Dan Graziano included the Lions in a group of four "potentially interested teams with enough cap space" to make a deal for the disgruntled pass-catcher.
Detroit is off to a 3-1 start this season, and after making it all the way to the NFC Championship in 2023, would trading for Adams be something that helps them capture the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl win?
Would a Davante Adams trade help the Detroit Lions beat out the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC North?
The Lions are currently in what many would refer to as the team's "Super Bowl window." After Detroit's success in 2023, they probably only have another season or two to try and capitalize on what they were able to accomplish last year.
A trade for someone like Adams is a move that multiple Super Bowl contenders have made in the past. The San Francisco 49ers trade for All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey in 2022 is one of the more notable blockbuster deals a championship contender has recently made, and that trade helped the 49ers reach the NFC Championship in 2022 and then the Super Bowl in 2023.
Do the Lions believe acquiring Adams this year could produce a similar result? If they do, then they'll have to be okay with parting with some valuable future assets.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday, Las Vegas is looking to receive a "second-round draft pick and additional compensation" in return for Adams. Detroit currently has a selection in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, so that's something they can definitely offer in a trade proposal for the Raiders receiver.
Currently, the Lions have Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at the top of their wide receiver depth chart. One would assume that if Detroit acquires Adams in a trade, he would probably take over as the team's WR2, and Williams would shift down to WR3.
However, an argument could be also made that the Lions don't really need to add another top pass-catcher on offense. Heading into Week 5, Detroit ranks seventh in the NFL in points scored per offensive drive, sixth in net yards per pass attempt, and eighth in rushing yards per carry.
Getting more help on the defensive side of the ball before this season's trade deadline is probably what would be more beneficial for the Lions.
But if Detroit thinks making a deal for Adams is what will help them beat out the Vikings and Green Bay Packers for the top of the division this year, then the All-Pro receiver might be back playing in the NFC North in the near future.