The Los Angeles Rams’ biggest splash in free agency to this point has been adding former All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams.
Despite being 32 years of age, Adams is still one of the elite receivers in the NFL and should immediately improve the Rams’ offense. It’s a perfect match for L.A. and Adams, who knew early in the process that the Rams were the team he wanted to join.
“There were a lot of different things that already appealed and honestly coming into it and knowing that this may be a thing that I would be a free agent is already something that was on my radar,” Adams said. “After speaking with a couple of players, Sean, and a couple of the other personnel, it was clear that this was where I needed to be. [The Rams were] definitely the most eager organization to reach out, whether it was the understanding of contracts or understanding of where I am in my game.
“Obviously having an opportunity to play with [QB] Matthew [Stafford] is a heck of an opportunity. I can’t wait to get started with that and the rest of the team too. Being able to be with a contender at this point in my career is something I’ve been waiting for a while now. I’ve been putting the work in to make it happen, but now we got it. It’s exciting.”
Adams revealed that Rams head coach Sean McVay recruited him hard, sending him videos of how he plans to use him in the Rams’ offense.
“Aggressive. I’ll say aggressive, but in all the right ways though,” Adams said of McVay’s recruitment. “He sent me a couple highlight tapes of myself narrating. It was kind of [Former Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach] John Grudenesque a little bit. You know how he is with ball so he’s breaking down every single clip. The first one was like seven minutes and then he sent another one that was probably another two minutes where he’s just going through everything and talking about it. I thought he took that job to be on TV for a minute when I was watching it.
“It just shows how much ball means to him and how much of a priority I was for him and the rest of the guys here because it’s not just him making those decisions. When you have that from a coach, you’re on the free market and you don’t see it from anybody else to that level, it means a lot. It felt like I got ganged up a little bit but as long as I’m here, it doesn’t matter.”
If McVay was this set on adding Adams to the Rams’ offense, then there’s no doubt he has some good ideas about how to utilize him this season, which will be fun to watch.
Davante Adams & Sean McVay have previous relationship
Davante Adams gave some insight into his conversations with Rams head coach Sean McVay and revealed they have a previous relationship and had talked about teaming up at some point.
“He just basically let me know that… we already connected in 2019 at the Derby out in Kentucky. He told me at that point because I think we played you guys in 2018… he made a comment and he was just like, ‘Look man, I have a lot of respect for your game and it’d be amazing at some point to be able to team up, join forces and figure it out together on the same team.’ At that point, you’re on a different team so you’re like, ‘Yeah, it’d be cool one day.’ But to have it be a real thing now and him to have the opportunity to make sure that it didn’t slip away because he certainly made sure it did not slip away, that was something that drew me kind of even closer to the Rams just knowing how much I was wanted,” Adams said.
“Having different players reach out too was another thing that meant a lot to me. It’s a good feeling just being wanted and knowing what you still can contribute and bring to the game. It’s always good when the other side of the organization views you the same way as you view yourself.”
