Raiders receiver Davante Adams had high praise for Saints WR coach Keith Williams, but did he hint on a possible trade destination?
Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams appeared on “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams this week, where he was joined by Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed. The two discussed Saints’ wide receivers coach Keith Williams, who has played a significant role in Adams’ career.
Williams first crossed paths with Adams when he was the wide receivers coach at Brookside Christian High School in Stockton, CA from 1997-1999, where Adams was a student. Their relationship continued to flourish when Adams attended Fresno State, where Williams coached him along with other notable receivers like Jalen Saunders, Jamel Hamler, and Seyi Ajirotutu from 2009-2011.
Williams made a major impact during his college coaching career, transforming wide receiver units at Tulane and Nebraska. In his first season at Tulane (2012), the receivers totaled 186 receptions, 2,656 yards, and 19 touchdowns. Similarly, in his first year at Nebraska (2015), the WR group posted over 200 catches, nearly 2,800 yards, and 23 touchdowns.
During his time with Tulane, Nebraska and the AAF’s San Antonio team (2012-2019), Williams was highly sought after by NFL receivers, like Tyreek Hill and Adams, for offseason training.
After three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens as the assistant WR coach, Williams joined the New Orleans Saints as the WR coach for the 2024 NFL season.
During the “Up & Adams” interview, Adams praised Shaheed’s growth as a player. Heading into Week 5, Shaheed has 252 receiving yards and two TDS.
“His [Shaheed] average touchdowns, over the course of his career, over 11 TDS are over 50-yards which is insane,” Adams said. “If you really pay attention to his game, the man can play. He can run routes, he’s got the best coach in the world over there [New Orleans] to work with right now.”
Davante Adams was, of course, referring to coach Keith Williams during his discussion on “Up & Adams.” Williams has been a significant influence throughout Adams’ career.
Kay Adams isn’t the only sports media personality speculating about Adams possibly joining the Saints. On today’s episode of *The Facility,* James Jones weighed in, offering his perspective on why Adams might want to head to New Orleans. Jones’ insight adds to the growing conversation about Adams’ future and the potential for him to reunite with familiar faces like Williams.
James Jones added fuel to the speculation about Davante Adams possibly joining the New Orleans Saints, saying on *The Facility*, “Get back with your brother, Derek Carr, who you had an All-Pro season with. The dude that raised you [Keith Williams]… The Saints will make a lot of sense for Davante Adams.”
In 2022, during Adams’ first season playing with Carr, he amassed 1,516 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, showcasing their strong chemistry. His relationship with wide receivers coach Keith Williams, who has been a mentor throughout his career, also makes a potential reunion appealing.
A move to the Saints seems plausible, especially after rumors surfaced that Adams expressed interest in joining a team with a quarterback he’s familiar with, narrowing the options to Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets, or Carr and the Saints.