Green Bay have traded All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the Raiders for 22nd overall pick and a 2022 second-round pick in a blockbuster trade that surprised the entire NFL.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe move sees Las Vegas offer an enormous five-year, $141.25 million to the 29-year-old receiver, which allows Adams to hook up with former college teammate Derek Carr and gives the Raiders another weapon, alongside pro bowl receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller, in the stacked AFC West.
New Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has been aggressive in free agency and trades since his arrival in January after his rival divisional teams improved dramatically. The addition of Adams will help Las Vegas face the toughest division in the league as they are booked to face the Denver Broncos led by Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs and Justin Herbert with the LA Chargers.
NFL Network insider, Ian Rapoport reported that Adams was offered more money from Green Bay than the contract he accepted from the Raiders, but it was his lifelong dream to play in Las Vegas with Carr and Co.
Adams was franchised tagged by his former team but stated that he would not play on the tag during the 2022 season. It was believed the Packers were working with Adams on a new contract to stay in Green Bay, but no deal could be agreed so Green Bay opted to move on and the Raiders swooped in.
As stated above Adams will join his former college quarterback Carr in the silver and black, something he has talked about in previous years. During their two seasons at Fresno State the two broke records together. Adams led the Football Bowl Subdivision in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, while Carr finished number one in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe former Fresno State man leaves Green Bay after eight seasons in the green and gold where he made the pro bowl every year since 2017 and made the first team All Pro team in both 2020 and 2021.
He also starred in the best QB/WR duo in the NFL as he and Aaron Rodgers destroyed defences for years and went to the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons. Adams joins the Raiders having come off a stellar 2021 season where he broke his career-high receiving yards with 1,553 yards and receptions with 123 and caught 11 touchdowns.
This leaves the Packers in a precarious position with only Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers as their remaining receiver core. They will need to use their newfound cap space for veteran playmakers in free agency while their two first-round and second-round picks will need to see a couple of young talented wide-outs they can develop come to the team.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Raiders just made themselves a little more competitive and have given them a chance to make the playoffs with the addition of Adams, alongside new linebacker, Chandler Jones who signed with the Raiders in free agency to a three-year, $51m contract after he left the Arizona Cardinals.
This trade comes after a huge couple of days of free agency, and with a lot more players left to sign we could see more blockbuster trades and signings in a matter of hours. If you’re interested in checking out the latest deals, click here.
For now, good luck to Adams in Vegas and good luck to the Packers on their rebuild.