Over the past few seasons, the Green Bay Packers have been at the center of some quite important moves. Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers are obviously at the top of that list. Rodgers was only moved to the New York Jets this past off-season, while Adams was dealt to the Las Vegas Raiders two off-seasons ago.
It will be intriguing to watch whether the Packers make a significant deal during their off-season for the third time in a row. But one expert has gone so far as to examine the true impact of one of these recent trades.
Davante Adams’ trade to the Green Bay Packers has analysts digging further.
From a professional standpoint, Adams might be able to go back and change that decision. Would the Packers want that move made again, though? Adams’ outstanding performance in Aaron Rodgers’ final season as a starter would undoubtedly benefit the team in 2022, but it’s unlikely that the receiver could turn a non-playoff team into a legitimate Super Bowl contender on his own.
General manager Brian Gutekunst of the Packers used the first- and second-round picks they received from Adams’ trade to choose linebacker Quay Walker and to move up in the second round to take wide out Christian Watson. Saying that the Packers lost the transaction is simple given that Adams’ value exceeds that of Walker and Watson put together.
But that isn’t where the analysis ends.
Davante agreed to a $140 million, five-year contract. It’s at least a three-year, $67.75 million contract ($22.58 million yearly average), even with a team-friendly structure. In addition to the draft selections, Green Bay would have had to let go of a few players they retained.
An excellent analysis of the free agents the Packers signed in 2022 with a total cap hit comparable to what Adams alone had for the Raiders was provided by independent cap analyst Ken Ingalls.
Making a firm decision on this subject is difficult. It’s possible that Davante Adams alone would be worth more than any combination of Quay Walker, Christian Watson, De’Vondre Campbell, Rasul Douglas, Robert Tonyan, Jarran Reed, Pat O’Donnell, Keisean Nixon, and Allen Lazard.
Not to mention that Aaron Jones, the Packers’ running back, was retained. To keep the squad under the cap, they could have had to let him go at some point.
Perhaps the 2023 draft would have been different as well with Adams. They might not have selected Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, and they would have instead used those picks to select players from positions of need, such as cornerback and off-ball linebacker, which were generated by the choice to retain Adams.
After only two seasons, the Packers’ wide receiving group is in a very strong position.
At Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sunday, January 7, 2024, during their football game against the Chicago Bears, wide receivers Jayden Reed (11) and Bo Melton (80) of the Green Bay Packers celebrate a reception. The Bears were beaten 17–9 by the Packers. Mr. Glasheen Wisconsin-USA TODAY NETWORK.
Despite the general consensus that Green Bay’s wide receiving corps after Davante Adams would be incredibly inexperienced, they had a significant impact in 2023.
Jordan Love has plenty of weapons in Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson (when healthy). Not to mention Aaron Jones out of the backfield, Tucker Kraft, and Luke Musgrave.
Reed and Wicks combined for 103 catches, 1,374 yards, and 12 touchdowns.
Reed emerged as Jordan Love’s go-to receiver throughout the regular season, leading the Packers in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Matt LaFleur came up with inventive tactics to get the ball to him even though he dominated in the slot.