At 32, Adams was coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign. Playing for arguably two of the worst teams last season, the Raiders and the Jets, Adams scored only 8 TDs, his fewest since an injury-riddled 2015 season. But that doesn’t mean Adams ain’t a starting wide receiver anymore. He still logged his 5th consecutive 1000-yard season last year. But given his best friend, Aaron Rodgers, left New York, Adams also didn’t stick around.
After hitting free agency, and given that he’s from the Bay Area, having attended Palo Alto High School, Adams apparently dreamt of an emotional homecoming. That’s why he told The Athletic’s Mike Silver, “I was entertaining the Niners.” But it seems they weren’t totally committed to getting him in San Francisco. Adams added, “But they were like, We’re paying wholesale. We ain’t paying retail. I didn’t talk to them but that’s what my agent told me like five times that quote. And I was like, OK, well, I’m not a wholesale-type dude.”
That’s when the 49ers’ NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, came in and gave Adams a two-year, $44M contract. They weren’t afraid to pay retail while the 49ers needed Adams more than the Rams. Having traded Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, coming off an ACL, the 49ers’ only receivers are Jauan Jennings and second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall. And most surprising of all, the Rams’ 3rd choice receiver, Demarcus Robinson.
Meanwhile, Adams is expected to pair up with Puka Nacua to strike up a deadly receiver combo in LA. As for the 49ers, their lowball tactics with Adams could come back to haunt when the two clash two times a year.