With Davante Adams' official release from the Jets finalized on Tuesday, speculation has escalated on if he could be an option for the Chargers in free agency.
Earlier this offseason, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler linked Adams to a potential California return to the Chargers, Rams, or 49ers. Yesterday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport echoed a similar sentiment about Adams coming to the West Coast.
It remains to be seen if the Chargers specifically will show interest in Adams, but the signs are clearly there. However, Los Angeles will also have their fair share of fallback options and backup plans. An Adams reunion with QB Aaron Rodgers has also been rumored.
Last season, the former Raiders' receiver demanded out and was traded to play with Rodgers' Jets. There's at least a possibility he waits to see where Rodgers lands.
In that case, the Chargers would obviously have to turn their focus elsewhere on the wide receiver market. Pat Leonard of New York Daily News recently interviewed Giants' free-agent wide receiver Darius Slayton on his podcast "Talkin' Ball with Pat Leonard". On the podcast, Slayton is quoted as saying he wants to go somewhere he can win:
“Definitely, winning and being in an advantageous situation are probably two things that are really important for me right now," Slayton explained. "Obviously, five out of my six years with the Giants we weren’t competitive. We didn’t make the playoffs. We weren’t really close to making the playoffs."
Darius Slayton is a Chargers' backup plan for Davante Adams
In his article that pairs with his podcast interview, Leonard listed three specific teams that are expected to be suitors for Slayton. The Chargers, Panthers, and Steelers are supposedly expected to show some interest in the free-agent wideout.
Slayton just turned 28 and could provide the Chargers with a decent deep-ball threat. He averaged 14.7 yards per reception last season in addition to an ADOT of 13.7. Drops were an issue for Slayton last year at 15.2%, but the Giants' wideout also had the best contested catch season at 60% (12/20).
PFF's free agent rankings currently project Slayton for a three-year, $37.5 million deal with $25 million guaranteed. That would place him at $12.5 million in average annual value.
Leonard also mentions in his article that the Giants could be interested in Chargers free agent WR Joshua Palmer. This comes a few days after some national NFL reporters linked Palmer to getting a better contract in free agency than expected.
Adams should be the Chargers' top priority, but Slayton is one of the younger boundary deep threats LA could land in the event they can't sign the recently released Jets' wideout.