Davante Adams’ arrival in Los Angeles to play for the Rams has roots on the Kentucky Derby.
A number of years in the past the three-time All-Professional receiver and Rams coach Sean McVay chatted at Churchill Downs, the place McVay informed Adams how a lot he admired his work.
“He was just like, ‘Look man, I’ve got a lot of respect for your game,’” Adams stated Thursday, “‘and it would be amazing at some point to be able to team up, join forces and figure it out together on the same team.’”
This month when Adams hit free company for the primary time, McVay stepped up the recruiting pitch. He despatched Adams a number of spotlight tapes of the receiver that he personally narrated and communicated with him always whereas Adams was touring in Japan.
Davante Adams celebrates after scoring a landing for the New York Jets towards the Houston Texans in October.
(Frank Franklin II / Related Press)
Adams, who signed a two-year contract that features $20 million in ensures this 12 months, is clearly blissful to be again in California, the place he attended highschool in Palo Alto and performed at Fresno State.
Adams, 32, starred for the Inexperienced Bay Packers for eight seasons earlier than taking part in two-plus seasons for the Las Vegas Raiders and 11 video games final season for the New York Jets. Once they launched him, Adams stated the potential for becoming a member of the Rams “was already something that was on my radar.”
After talking with McVay, Rams gamers and different crew personnel, “it was clear that this is where I needed to be,” stated Adams, who has 957 receptions for 11,844 yards and 103 touchdowns.
Adams joins a Rams receiving corps that features third-year professional Puka Nacua and speedster Tutu Atwell, whom the Rams re-signed to a one-year, $10-million contract. The Rams launched veteran Cooper Kupp on Wednesday.
Adams stated he has lengthy admired Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who additionally joined the recruiting pitch.
“I don’t know if he was quite as eager as Sean was,” Adams stated, “but it was still a good feeling knowing the quarterback wants you to be there too.”
Adams is keen to start working with a quarterback who ranks among the many high 10 in a number of classes, and a crew that superior to the NFC divisional spherical final season.
“Being able to be with a contender at this point in my career is something I’ve been waiting for for a while now,” he stated. “I’ve been putting the work in to make it happen, but now we got it so it’s exciting.”
Adams will proceed to put on No. 17. Nacua introduced this week that he was switching to 12 to honor his household and return to the quantity he wore rising up. Adams stated he had not communicated with Nacua concerning the change.
“For everybody out there that wants to hate me for making them buy new jerseys, I did not tell him, I didn’t pay him, I didn’t do anything,” Adams stated, grinning. “That was out of the kindness of his heart and what he wore in college, so I guess it made sense.”
Rams guard Coleman Shelton throughout his first stint with the Rams in December 2023.
(Terrance Williams / Related Press)
Offensive lineman Coleman Shelton was not a marquee acquisition for the Rams, however he additionally may play an important position in McVay’s offense.
Shelton, a Southern California native, performed middle and guard for the Rams from 2019 to 2023. Final season he performed with the Chicago Bears and labored with rookie Caleb Williams, the previous USC star who was the highest choose within the draft.
“Very excited to be able to get back to work with Matthew and hit the ground running,” Shelton stated. “Caleb, being able to work with him was an awesome opportunity. He’s a great guy, he’s a great competitor and I only see success in his future.”
New defensive sort out Poona Ford performed 5 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks and one with the Buffalo Payments earlier than taking part in for the Chargers final season. He joins a entrance that features lineman Braden Fiske and edge rusher Jared Verse, the NFL defensive rookie of the 12 months.
“They’re young and they’re hungry,” Ford stated. “I’m just looking forward to getting to know everybody and building chemistry on and off the field.”
