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GREEN BAY, Wis. — It seems Aaron Rodgers‘ return to the Green Bay Packers did not imply the identical factor for Davante Adams.
Simply days after Rodgers signed his blockbuster contract extension to return, Adams, his favourite goal, left city in a commerce with the Las Vegas Raiders, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
The Raiders are sending the Packers their first-round decide (No. 22 total) and second-round decide (No. 53) on this yr’s draft, sources instructed Schefter. That offers the Packers 4 picks within the prime 60; in addition they personal picks Nos. 28 and 59.
Adams, 29, is signing a five-year contract averaging $28.5 million per season with Las Vegas, with $67.5 million totally assured, a supply stated. Rodgers was conscious of the developments with Adams, who most well-liked to play elsewhere quite than return to Inexperienced Bay for a contract and pay construction much like his cope with the Raiders, a supply stated.
The commerce reunites Adams with Derek Carr, his quarterback at Fresno State earlier than they entered the NFL collectively in 2014, and likewise provides Carr a No. 1 receiver in his prime.
The Raiders’ odds to win the Tremendous Bowl improved barely after the commerce, transferring from 60-1 to 50-1 at Caesars Sportsbook. Las Vegas is 25-1 to win the AFC and has the fourth-best odds to win the AFC West at 7-1.
Inexperienced Bay dropped from 11-1 to 12-1 to win the Tremendous Bowl, however nonetheless owns the second-best odds within the NFC behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-1).
The Packers had used the franchise tag on Adams final week, however now they’re free from that $20.14 million cost on their wage cap.
Nevertheless, Inexperienced Bay now’s in main want on the receiver spot. Two of the receivers of their rotation final season are free brokers: deep menace Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown. The Bears signed St. Brown on Thursday, however now the Packers have cap house to carry again Valdes-Scantling in the event that they select. In addition they put the second-round tender on restricted free-agent receiver Allen Lazard. Randall Cobb additionally returned to the Packers however with a large pay minimize from $7.875 to $2.075 million.
At this level, the Packers’ prime receivers on their depth chart are Lazard, Cobb, Amari Rodgers and Malik Taylor. However now they’ve the cap house and draft capital to rebuild the place. They haven’t drafted a receiver within the first spherical since 2002, once they picked Javon Walker at No. 20 total.
Adams was by no means going to play on the franchise tag, and late final season he selected his phrases rigorously when discussing the chance, saying on the time: “I am undecided reply that safely proper now. So, we’ll simply cross that bridge once we get to it. I will simply say that. I wish to be skilled on right here.”
Adams’ commerce to the Raiders ends probably the most profitable quarterback-receiver partnership in Packers’ historical past. Rodgers and Adams personal the Packers’ document for many profession touchdowns by a QB-WR mixture with 68, breaking Rodgers and Jordy Nelson’s earlier mark of 65.
Final summer time, Adams made no secret of his need to be the NFL’s highest-paid receiver. The Packers agreed, however the sides couldn’t agree on what outlined the highest-paid receiver. Adams and his agent, Frank Bauer, estimated the usual is $27.75 million per yr, the common in Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins‘ contract.
Nevertheless, the Packers view Hopkins’ common as nearer to $20 million per yr, provided that his most up-to-date deal was an extension to his earlier contract (5 years, $81 million). The added cash was $54.5 million over two extra years.
So Adams performed out the season and had maybe his finest yr, setting the single-season franchise document for catches (123) and receiving yards (1,553) final season. He turned simply the sixth participant in NFL historical past with 120-plus catches, 1,500-plus yards and 11-plus landing catches in the identical season and is the one participant in NFL historical past with three seasons (2018, 2020-21) of 110-plus catches, 1,350-plus receiving yards and 11-plus receiving TDs.
Adams and Carr performed two seasons collectively at Fresno State, with Adams catching 24 of Carr’s 50 landing passes of their closing collegiate season in 2013.
Adams is probably the most completed wideout Carr may have had in his eight-year professional profession.
Carr has performed with proficient receivers in earlier years, however Amari Cooper was nonetheless early in his profession whereas Michael Crabtree’s finest days had been behind him. Each fell out of favor with Carr. Then there was Antonio Brown, whose self-imposed implosion received him launched earlier than ever showing in a regular-season recreation. Henry Ruggs III was beginning to come into his personal final season earlier than he was concerned in a high-speed automobile crash that killed a 23-year-old lady in Las Vegas; Ruggs was minimize.
Now with Adams within the fold, as long as the Raiders’ offensive line improves, Carr shouldn’t have any excuses to not thrive.
ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez and David Purdum contributed to this report.
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