Arguably the NFL’s best QB-WR connection is no more.
It seemed inevitable that wide receiver Davante Adams would agree to a long-term deal with the Green Bay Packers after quarterback Aaron Rodgers announced his return to the team, but instead the star pass-catcher forced his way out. Despite reportedly being offered more money to stay in Green Bay, Adams was traded on the franchise tag to fulfill a dream of his: to play for the Las Vegas Raiders and reunite with his college quarterback Derek Carr.
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The Raiders gave up their 2022 first- and second-round picks for Adams. They subsequently agreed to a five-year, $142.5 million extension with $67.5 million guaranteed — the largest by any non-quarterback in NFL history.
This is a huge loss for the back-to-back reigning NFL MVP and the Packers offense.
Most valuable non-quarterback of 2021 | PFF Wins Above Replacement (WAR)
| Player | PFF WAR |
| 1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams | 1.15 |
| 2. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams | 0.87 |
| 3. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders | 0.81 |
| 4. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders | 0.78 |
| 5. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams | 0.75 |
Adams is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL. He finished as 2020 and 2021's highest-graded wide receiver in the regular season. The new Raiders star puts out teaching tape every week with his elite route-running and release package. He shredded single coverage better than anyone in the NFL this season, according to PFF receiving grades. The former Fresno State Bulldog hauled in 96.1% of his catchable targets in 2021, the second-highest rate among players with at least 100 targets.
A wide receiver's job is to get open and catch the ball, and no one has done a better job in that than Adams.
He was the engine of the Packers offense. Adams was the go-to option for Rodgers in his two most recent MVP campaigns and instrumental in the quarterback taking home the award. Adams has been targeted on over 30% of his routes in each of the last two seasons, which a common in the NFL.
Highest single-season target rate by a WR since 2016 (@PFF)
1. Julio Jones (2017) – 31%
2. Davante Adams (2021) – 30.6%
3. Davante Adams (2020) – 30.4%— Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) March 18, 2022
Needless to say, Green Bay’s offense will look a lot different without Adams there. The numbers from the handful of games without Adams on the field the last few years are good, but that doesn’t mean the Packers are better off without him. He helped expand their playbook and allow them to do things they otherwise couldn’t.
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