‘Rejuvenated' Davante Adams developing rapport with Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay

New York Times

a day ago

LOS ANGELES — After a head-turning day of practice on Tuesday, new Los Angeles Rams receiver Davante Adams took the podium and said he feels 'rejuventated.'
'It's been exactly what I needed,' said Adams, who the Rams signed this spring to a two-year, $46 million deal following a tumultuous 2024. Adams was traded from Las Vegas to the New York Jets last season, then released as the Jets overhauled their coaching staff and part of their roster. 'Really enjoying the time with the guys and getting to know them, getting on the same page with Matthew (Stafford) and just kind of jelling with the whole team right now.'
Advertisement
Adams, a three-time All Pro coming off a fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season despite transitions from Green Bay (where he played eight seasons) to Las Vegas to about half a season in New York, said he feels like he's been a part of the Rams for multiple seasons already because of 'how open and receptive' teammates and coaches have been.
'It's supposed to be a kids' game,' he said. '(Here) it kind of feels like Pop Warner, high school, college ball all over again. That's exactly what this team feels like in the best way possible. …
'I feel like this is what I needed just based off the vibe and the aura of the building. Everybody is in a good mood, it's not like a dark cloud over the building. I've experienced that quite a bit over the last few years. It's a glaring difference when you come into a building like this.'
'What I think is really cool to be able to witness, is the respect that you can feel they have for one another.'
🎙️ Coach McVay on the connection between Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams. pic.twitter.com/M4hBJUOGpW
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 10, 2025
The Rams will hold a minicamp with limited on-field work next week in Maui before breaking for the summer. Adams has used the organized team activities (OTAs) over the last few weeks to develop his chemistry with Stafford, head coach Sean McVay and his new Rams teammates.
Tuesday, Adams impressed. For years, he has had the reputation of getting open quickly and creating space throughout the course of a route between himself and a defender in a variety of ways. Whether from the slot — Adams hit a defender with a hip flip in tight space in the middle of the field and Stafford threw him a pass right as he got open and pivoted the opposite direction — or the perimeter, Adams had a high-volume workload and showed a brief glimpse at the potential of his role in the offense this year.
Advertisement
Stafford has also long been known for his creative play, working different arm angles and capitalizing on defenders' mistakes regardless of the practice script. That has also been energizing for Adams.
'Based off a couple we had today, he don't care what that coverage says — if they're not playing that coverage right, you might get the ball still,' said Adams, laughing.
Adams and Stafford talk frequently between plays about timing, placement and both players adjust where necessary.
'It makes it easy for a guy like me, because I'll run a route and expect that I'm supposed to run out of (it) a little bit quicker, maybe I had to dive to catch it or something like that, and he's saying 'that's on me, I've got to put it on you' versus telling me that I have to do it a different way,' Adams said. 'Which I'm completely OK with, too! I'm the new guy here. A lot of times that's how I look at it anyway. 'How can I make (things) better?' versus, 'put a better ball on me.'
'As long as he's throwing me the ball, I'll figure out a way to get it. (But) him being a man like that obviously helps this whole thing go a lot smoother and us get on the same page a lot faster.'
In stretch lines before practice or in between drills, McVay spends extra time with Adams as the two actually get to know each other following McVay's heated pursuit of Adams in free agency in March.
'A lot of it is asking questions about things that maybe I've seen over the course of his career, or how do we apply it, or how is it maybe similar to the things I've seen him do,' McVay said. 'He loves football. There's a consistent passion, there's a real understanding of how it all kind of fits together (with) spacing, timing, rhythm. We talk about other stuff outside of football. The way his mind works, I've really enjoyed being able to learn from him as well.'
Advertisement
The two have even talked on the phone after Adams does some of his film study at night, whether to make adjustments or clarify different concepts.
'The way he sees the game is pretty impressive,' said McVay. 'I mean, he sees the game through a quarterback lens. He's got so many experiences and really understands it from an All-22 perspective.'
The caveat on everything this time of year is just that: it's the spring. There are no pads, and everyone feels great.
But Adams' energy on the field and in meetings during the voluntary workouts even in his 12th season — even as 'the new guy' — backs up his positive talk.
'It's just about ball (here), it's no other B.S.,' he said. 'Got a really good quarterback in here, a really good young team that shows a lot of promise. … Just knowing how hungry this team is and seeing the work that they're still putting in after having a year like last year, it just kind of confirms that I'm in the right place.'