Over the past few off-seasons, the Green Bay Packers have bid farewell to a number of their star players, including Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers. While these two players stand out, there were other key veterans who were not re-signed, despite having made a significant impact on the franchise over the years.
Now, it seems that another former star could be at the center of a massive trade in the near future.
Although Davante Adams has proven himself to be an elite NFL receiver without Aaron Rodgers, he has not experienced any team success since the dynamic duo parted ways after the 2021 season. The Las Vegas Raiders, who acquired Adams in a trade, have failed to make the playoffs in the two seasons since, and face an uphill battle to become contenders in 2024.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Adams has not requested a trade, but is an “obvious” choice to be dealt before free agency opens. The regime that brought him to Vegas is no longer in place, and quarterback Derek Carr, Adams’ college teammate and one of the reasons he initially wanted to play for the Raiders, is also gone.
Rather than have Adams languish on a rebuilding franchise in the twilight of his career, the Raiders could opt to trade him this off-season and recoup some of the draft capital they gave up to acquire him.
Despite tallying an impressive 2,660 yards and 22 touchdowns on 203 receptions since the start of the 2022 campaign, the 31-year-old could be best utilized as a trade chip by the incoming regime. Adams still has three years left on his five-year, $140 million contract, which is the most lucrative among wide receivers in terms of total value. He ranks second in average annual value ($28 million) behind Tyreek Hill ($30 million) of the Miami Dolphins.
The Raiders missed the playoffs this season and have a head coaching vacancy to fill, so it is possible that the team may decide to reset and start over. This could mean acquiring as many premium draft picks as possible. Meanwhile, the New York Jets are expected to enter the 2024 season in a “win now” mode with the pending return of Aaron Rodgers.
