Rams, Davante Adams Moving Forward After Trade Discussions

Coach Sean McVay says team explored possibilities but decided to keep star receiver.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:33pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp geometric planes in the Rams' team colors of blue, yellow, and metallic accents, conceptually representing the team's strategic decision to retain their star wide receiver.The Rams' decision to keep star receiver Davante Adams reflects their commitment to an offense built around his elite playmaking abilities.Los Angeles Today

Despite some discussions about trading star wide receiver Davante Adams, the Los Angeles Rams have decided to keep him on the team for the 2026 season. Head coach Sean McVay acknowledged the team explored different options but ultimately determined they were better off with Adams than without him, especially in the red zone where his production was crucial.

Why it matters

The Rams were reportedly interested in acquiring another top receiver this offseason, which could have created a crowded receiver room and salary cap challenges. Keeping Adams provides stability and continuity for the team's offense, which was heavily reliant on his red zone production last season.

The details

McVay said the team talked about "onboarding other players" and how that might affect Adams, but they decided it wasn't best for the team to trade him. The Rams were linked to trade discussions for Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, but opted to keep Adams on his two-year contract signed in 2025. McVay communicated with Adams about the trade talks, assuring him the team values his contributions.

  • In the 2025 season, Adams caught 60 passes for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Rams.
  • Adams missed the final three games of the 2025 regular season with a hamstring injury, during which the Rams' red-zone conversion rate dropped significantly.

The players

Sean McVay

Head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.

Davante Adams

All-Pro wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams.

Les Snead

General manager of the Los Angeles Rams.

A.J. Brown

All-Pro wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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What they’re saying

“I wouldn't say discussed, you know, we really talked about some different avenues of onboarding other players and how it might affect Davante. I've talked with Davante about that. And if we felt like it was best for our team, we would have done that. But we didn't think it was best for our team.”

— Sean McVay, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams

“I love him. But what I also have a responsibility to do is decisions that are best for our football team. I don't want to get too specific for what my conversation was with him, but I addressed what those conversations were, even though they never really got too far. But I did want to acknowledge it and then be able to tell him, you know, the cool thing is is when you let the tape guide your decision making.”

— Sean McVay, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams

“We talked a lot about, especially in the red zone, hey, Davante on the field for the Rams, Davante off the field, red zone, red‑zone data is pretty self‑explanatory. So that was a big discussion. If we were going to move on from that, touchdowns are important and there's no necessarily guarantee that we can replace that.”

— Les Snead, General Manager, Los Angeles Rams

What’s next

The Rams will continue to build around Davante Adams as they prepare for the 2026 NFL season.

The takeaway

By keeping Davante Adams, the Rams are prioritizing continuity and stability in their offense, especially in the red zone where his production was crucial. This decision highlights the team's commitment to building around their star receiver rather than making a potentially risky trade.