The Los Angeles Rams pounced on the opportunity to sign Davante Adams in free agency, and he figures to be an underrated key to unlocking their ceiling in 2025.
Adams joins the Rams with an impeccable track record of production and a strong history of durability, the latter of which is critical given that he is replacing a fan favorite in Cooper Kupp, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency after LA cut him during the offseason.
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak called Adams the Rams’ “X factor” as he fills the “void” Kupp left.
“The Rams chose to move on from Kupp, who has really slowed down in recent seasons, and replace him with a stylistically different wide receiver in Adams,” Solak wrote on August 28.
“Adams is more often used in isolation on the outside than Kupp ever was and excels as a go ball receiver — a role the Rams haven’t filled in years. If Adams benefits from the easy separation offered by [Rams head coach Sean] McVay magic and brings an additional layer of matchup danger for opposing defenses, then even Jimmy Garoppolo could excel under center.”
Solak’s mention of Adams is not without a cause for pause, though.
“Adams also is 33,” Solak wrote about the six-time Pro Bowler. “For as technical and timeless as his game is, he cannot go the way of Kupp by failing to produce on McVay’s yards-after-catch-oriented opportunities.”
Moreover, Adams needs the Rams to resolve some key issues they are navigating to reach his full potential, whatever that may be at this stage of his career.
Notably, Adams is in Year 1 of a two-year, $44 million contract with the Rams.
Davante Adams Needs Rams’ Issues Resolved
GettyDavante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams on the field before a game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Regardless of McVay and the Rams’ offensive scheme, Adams cannot produce if starting quarterback Matthew Stafford is not fully over the back injury that limited his training camp.
Stafford also needs starting left tackle Alaric Jackson back healthy.
“Much of the Rams’ offensive success hinges on the health of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is fighting a bad back (as well as Father Time), and offensive tackle Alaric Jackson, who missed most of training camp because of blood clots,” Solak wrote.
The good news for Adams is that the Rams do have Garoppolo, and they also signed D.J. Humphries to replace Jackson for the time being.
That should be enough to feed Adams and fellow wideout Puka Nacua in the Rams’ offense.
Davante Adams Faces New Challenge to Consistency
GettyPuka Nacua #12 and Davante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams watch from the sidelines during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Upon joining the Rams, Adams boasted of his history of playing with highly-regarded QBs, citing Stafford, former Fresno State and Las Vegas Raiders teammate Derek Carr, and Aaron Rodgers, the latter of whom he followed from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets.
However, his new situation is exactly that.
Adams entered the league as a second-round pick with the Packers in 2014 and was able to develop his connection with Rodgers over time, which helped his Jets transition.
His previous relationship with Carr aided Adams’ transition to the Raiders in a similar fashion, which would make Garoppolo a closer fit than Stafford in that regard. That union did not end well, but Adams cited the environment as the issue instead of Garoppolo.
Stafford is not Garoppolo.
There could still be timing and other on-field chemistry issues between Adams and Stafford, given the newness of their partnership and the QB’s absence from training camp practice.
That does not even account for Nacua, Tutu Atwell, who also plays receiver, running back Kyren Williams, tight ends Tyler Higbee and rookie Terrance Ferguson, and fellow rookie Jarquez Hunter out of the backfield. All of that could lead to Adams’ production dipping with the Rams.
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