Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is excited to take the field with new teammate Davante Adams.
“He’s been great,” Stafford said. “Obviously played against him in the division [when Stafford was in Detroit and Adams was in Green Bay], have been a fan of his from afar on the other sideline for a long time, and what he’s been able to do in the league kind of speaks for itself, but then getting to be around him personally every day, working with him, throwing to him, just seeing the kind of professional that he is, he fits right in.
“That’s the kind of guy, since I’ve been here in L.A., we’ve had. I’ve been lucky enough to throw to a bunch of guys that take the game seriously, love going out and competing and trying to find a way to get better. He’s no different, and we’re definitely excited to have him, and I know for me as a quarterback, I feel lucky for all the guys I’ve been able to throw to, and he’s definitely up there.”
A second-round pick of the Green Bay Packers out of Fresno State in the 2014 NFL Draft, Adams started out as a depth piece but emerged in 2016 with 997 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He followed that up with 885 yards and 10 TDs in 2017. He had a breakout season in 2018 with 111 receptions, 1,386 yards, and 13 TDs. After a somewhat down season in 2019, he had another excellent season in 2020, with 115 catches for 1,374 yards and a league-leading 18 TDs. He had career highs in catches (123) and yards (1,553) in 2021.
After negotiations stalled with the Packers, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, reuniting him with his friend and college quarterback, Derek Carr. He had another standout year, with 100 receptions for 1,516 yards, and again leading the league in touchdowns with 14. He had another down season in 2023, though he still surpassed 100 catches and 1,100 yards. Adams requested a trade from the Raiders early in 2024, and was traded to the Jets in October, reuniting him with Aaron Rodgers, with whom he played in Green Bay. Adams has six Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro selections.
Adams joins the Rams as a veteran presence in a young receiver room headlined by star Puka Nacua and 2021 second-round pick Tutu Atwell. The team’s former elder statesman, Cooper Kupp, signed with the division rival Seattle Seahawks after the Rams failed to trade him. Kupp was drafted by the Rams out of Eastern Washington in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He had a historic season in 2021 after Stafford was traded to the Rams from the Detroit Lions. He had 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 TDs, winning the receiving triple crown. Kupp was also a key piece of the Rams’ Super Bowl campaign. He had 33 receptions—an NFL postseason record—for 478 yards and 6 TDs, and was the Super Bowl MVP in the Rams’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
Stafford and Kupp are still good friends, and Stafford said he has been talking to Kupp about their upcoming tilts.
“I’ve been texting with him some, just checking in on him,” Stafford said. “He’s a few miles away in a different colored jersey and all that kind of stuff, but when we get to talking and texting, it’s the same old stuff, just giving each other a hard time and having fun. I did ask him about this, I was like, ‘Am I going to be able to say what’s up to you pregame? What’s the deal?’ He’s like, ‘I’m going to give you a big bear hug.’
“Obviously, it’s tough when you’ve played with a guy and had as much success as we’ve had together and then move on, but you play this game long enough, you understand it’s part of the business, and I think he gets that too,” Stafford added. “But at the same time, I'll be happy to see him. Hopefully, he plays great, and we come away with a win. I’m always pulling for him, always pulling for Coop, but always want the Rams to be coming out on top.”
