After years of Davante Adams–Derek Carr reunion rumors, the Raiders made that happen this year by completing a tag-and-trade transaction with the Packers. Rejoining his ex-Fresno State teammate, Adams will begin play on his five-year, $140MM contract this week.
The ninth-year wide receiver had already confirmed the Packers offered more money to keep him. Despite that, Adams requested to be traded out of Green Bay, according to Tim Keown of ESPN.com.
“The time came where I had to think about my overall life and happiness,” Adams said, via Keown. “Where do I want my kids to grow up? I love Green Bay, but I’m a West Coast dude and a lot of family — especially my grandparents — haven’t been able to see me play in close to a decade of playing pro ball. It’s all the same people that’s coming — and it’s not a whole lot.”
An East Palo Alto, Calif., native, Adams played with Carr at Fresno State from 2012-13. The two had discussed a reunion at various points — one coming in 2017, before Adams signed a $14MM-per-year extension to stay in Green Bay — but Carr called Adams shortly after the Raiders’ wild-card loss to the Bengals, Keown adds. Classifying his 2022 recruitment of Adams “egregious,” Carr said something to the effect of, “Hey, whenever you’re ready, I’m ready. Let’s figure this thing out” to his former college teammate ahead of the Packers’ divisional-round game against the 49ers. Carr’s recruitment of Adams, who was set for free agency before the Packers tagged him, continued between the Packers’ playoff loss and the March trade.
Aaron Rodgers discussed his pitch for Adams to stay earlier this year, but Keown notes the four-time MVP told Adams his time in Green Bay was nearing its conclusion and the wideout needed to make his own choice about his long-term NFL future. Although Adams added, “it is not like I orchestrated this; nothing like that,” the Packers accommodated the wide receiver’s wishes to be moved. It was known Las Vegas was his preferred destination.
The trade sent Adams out of the NFC, freed up some funds (Green Bay re-signed both De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas this offseason) and provided first- and second-round picks (used on linebacker Quay Walker and to move up for wide receiver Christian Watson).
The Raiders have Carr signed through the 2025 season, via the three-year, $141.5MM extension agreed to in April. While a narrow 2023 window exists for the Raiders to escape the extension comes after Super Bowl LVII — $40.5MM (his 2023 base salary and part of his ’24 base) is due on Feb. 15 — the Carr-Adams connection reforming makes it highly unlikely the Raiders would bail on this pairing after one season. Las Vegas also has Hunter Renfrow signed through 2024.
Wow, they have Renfrow, Adams, and Waller? Carr has some great targets now. If they wanted to make him happy, this has to be a good way to do it.
Wow 9 years in Green Bay of making that kind of dough and he couldn’t fly anyone to a game??
More to flying people to a game, green bay isnt the best conditions for eldery grandparents to watch the games…especially after october.
Yeah, sitting up in a luxury heated skybox would have been very tough conditions. Stop. He has his reasons but that one is ridiculous.
Ah yes, they got off the plane into the luxury box back into the plane.
Bro, come on.
I am sure Rodgers leaving soon played a big part but bringing elderly parents or grandparents across the country is not easy. It definitely is not as easy as you say. I am living that right now. Being close to family for most people raising kids is extremely important also. Dude finally had a choice and made it.
As a senior, I know many elderly grandparents. They’ve survived a depression and two world wars so they are pretty darn feisty. A little late season chill ain’t gonna bother them a bit as long as they have a flask of their favorite medicinal remedy handy.
I’m with you. My tough old grandma who lived through the world war and the Great Depression suffered from Bell’s Palsy, a broken hip from when my father was born, and diabetes. She always did everything on her own, never asked for any help, but flying is definitely not something she would tolerate.
Maybe, like me, they will never fly. Why don’t they take a train? Well, maybe they can’t. You have no idea what kind of health his grandparents are in.
It certainly had nothing to do with money, the guy has plenty.
I think that’s the whole thing. I can’t imagine flying to games 8-10x a year. That was fine when I was a kid. Now it is just a chore.
Agree. And my guess is he’s played more than a few games in west coast stadiums over the last nine years.
Although Adams added, “it is not like I orchestrated this; nothing like that”
Huh? Dude, you asked them to trade you…
Stop making sense. It hurts the narrative!
Yes, because orchestrate is synonymous with “make request.”
Oh wait, they are not….only to myopic sports fans.
I think you don’t understand what the word “orchestrate” means when applied in this context. Here is what the word means:
to arrange or combine so as to achieve a desired or maximum effect
So let’s break this down. What was the desired effect? He wanted to be traded and be closer to his hometown.
How did he arrange it? He asked to be traded to Las Vegas.
Orchestrate doesn’t have a nefarious part to it, but it is often used with that context associated with it. But, by definition, he orchestrated this move.
Going to go down as one of the best trades in Packers history.
After a couple of decades of Ted Thompson, there can’t be that many others to compete with it.
Ron Wolf had 2 I believe that turned out OK.
A #2 to Atlanta for Brett Favre… I’m not a Packers fan, but he’s my favorite QB ever…
On a side note, Barry Sanders is the greatest running back ever. I’m not a lions fan. You don’t have to be to recognize greatness.
Adams went from near guaranteed HOFer with Rodgers to maybe HOF with Carr.
He is almost at that 85 TD threshold where all but 1 guy is in, or will get in upon being eligible.
I was a big fan of Adams but man this guy played himself into less money, likely less wins, less targets, and less accolades that come with all that.
How many more years is Rodgers going to play? Carr is a good QB and now has another big weapon to go to, and will still be in the prime of his career for a few more years.
Also, you can’t put a price on happiness. If he was careful with his money, the dude is filthy rich already. How much more money does he really need? He’s still going to be filthy rich. The Raiders now have a passing attack that includes Renfrow, Waller, and Adams. I don’t know of a trio that measures up to that, but I am not following the NFL as closely as I once did, but if you can think of any trio that stacks up to that, please list them.
Did the Raiders make the playoffs?
I’m a Raider fan , the Bengals trio is pretty impressive too
Just checked them out, Higgins, Chase and Boyd at WR is an impressive group and they added Hayden Hurst. If he can stay healthy he is a solid receiving TE. Thanks for the information.
Tampa also has some potential if guys can remain healthy with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and then a slew of guys who could do well in Russell Gage, Julio Jones if he’s still got anything in the tank, Breshad Perriman, and Scott Miller. Their TE position leaved a bit to be desired from a receiving standpoint.
Crying Packers fans are some of the best fans.
The ones whose team wins year a free year? Those ones?