WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – New Rams wide receiver Davante Adams was in Japan with friends this past weekend, but with how eagerly his new head coach Sean McVay was recruiting him, he might as well have been a part of the trip too.
"I thought he was out there too, just based off I was talking to him more than I was talking to my wife," Adams said with a laugh.
That aggressiveness – which included McVay sending nearly 10 minutes' worth of narrated highlight cut-ups of Adams' game while he was overseas – played a big part in his decision to sign with the team in free agency.
"There's a lot of teams that reached out," Adams said. "You never know how that process going to go when you're going through it. Being 32 years old and going through it for the first time, it was definitely a different experience, but it was fun and didn't last too long, but I'm glad to be a Ram.
Take a look back through the career of the newest Los Angeles Rams wide receiver, Davante Adams throughout his career.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes his way through the defense to score a touchdown after making a catch as he plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) runs in front of San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sheldon Day during the second half of the NFL NFC Championship football game Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) warms up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV. Raiders defeat the Chargers 63-21. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) covers Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) runs past Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (58) after making a catch during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) carries the ball against Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) catches a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV. Chiefs defeated the Raiders 31-13. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams looks on before an NFL football game between the Raiders and the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) runs during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) celebrates the win against the Denver Broncos of an NFL football game Sunday, November 20, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams after the Green Bay Packers' preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Aug.14,2021 in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) celebrates the game winning touchdown against the Denver Broncos of an NFL football game Sunday, November 20, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) signs autographs for fans before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Las Vegas, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct 2, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Colts won 28-27. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DaVante Adams (17) stands on the sideline during player introductions before playing against the New England Patriots in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV. Raiders won 21-17. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) looks on during an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 14, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) looks on during an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 14, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes his way through the defense to score a touchdown after making a catch as he plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) waves to the crowd after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Nov 14. 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) celebrates his game-winning touchdown catch after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Packers won 44-38 in overtime. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
"I mean, there's a lot of different things that already appealed. And honestly coming into it, knowing that this may be a thing that I would be a free agent, it was already something that was on my radar. And after speaking with a couple players, Sean and a couple of the other personnel, it was clear that this is where I needed to be. Definitely the most eager organization to reach out, whether it was the understanding of contracts or understanding where I am in my game. Obviously, having an opportunity to play with Matthew (Stafford) is a heck of an opportunity, and can't wait to get started with that, and obviously, 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 for a while now, and been putting the work in to make it happen. But now we that we got here, it's exciting."
Adams made it clear Thursday that one thing that was not a part of the Rams' recruitment was fellow receiver Puka Nacua changing his number.
Adams said he woke up to a text and a missed call from his agent as he was getting adjusted from the jet lag returning from Japan, when his agent told him Nacua already changed his number.
"I think it was his plan already to change to 12, I don't know," Adams said. "I don't know when, but I know that before I even knew for sure if I was headed to L.A., he was already talking about wearing 12. For everybody out there who wants to hate me for making them buy a new jersey... that was out of the kindness of his heart."
Thursday marked Adams' introductions to the rest of the coaching staff and some of his new teammates, including Nacua. He also got the chance to talk to his new quarterback, Stafford, who was also part of the Rams' recruitment of him and afterward reached out saying he was excited about the opportunity.
"I don't know if he was quite as eager as Sean was," Adams said, "but it was still a good feeling knowing the quarterback wants you to be there too."
Stafford and Adams overlapped in the NFC North from 2014 to 2020, Stafford's final seven seasons with the Lions and the first seven of Adams' eight with the Packers. What Adams appreciated the most from afar about the way Stafford played the quarterback position is how simple he makes it.
"I mean, he don't make it any harder than it need to be out there. He's simple," Adams said. "I mean, you look at dating back to when Megatron (former Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson) broke the (NFL single-season receiving yards) record, I think he needed like a buck-eighty-something, and he went and got him like 220-something. So seeing that, just knowing that, in that situation, I don't think they were headed anywhere near the playoffs, but to play in that game and to not check out in the last game of the year, and know how much that means to Megatron, and know how much it means to him to be a part of something like that, it just says the type of person that he is."
It was reported last Sunday that Adams' agent said the Rams were the place where Adams wanted to finish his career. Explaining that sentiment Thursday, Adams said he thought going to the Las Vegas Raiders after leaving the Green Bay Packers would be a storybook ending for his career at the time, being a California native and living as close as he did to family and friends.
He'll now have that access in Los Angeles.
"So having my support system, because I'm a real simple dude, my family and friends mean a lot to me, so being able to have them have easy access to me out here, it's a good feeling for me, just knowing I get to kind of the support, keep it real tight and stay close to family," Adams said. "And obviously, like I said, being a part of a great franchise and great team that made a great push last year, I'm just here to be another piece to hopefully get over the hump."
