Davante Adams said he wouldn’t play under the franchise tag for the Green Bay Packers, and that appears to be the case.
The Las Vegas Raiders are acquiring Adams from the Packers in exchange for their 2022 first- and second-round picks, and giving the superstar receiver a new five-year, $141.25 million contract, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. Adams will make a per-year average of $28.25 million and becomes the new highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history, Rapoport added.
The picks being sent to Green Bay are the No. 22 and No. 53 overall in April’s 2022 NFL Draft.
It’s a deal that’s quietly been in the works for days with the teams finalizing details and the contract extension for Adams being worked out. It is expected to be completed barring any late setbacks, per Rapoport.
Adams, 29, has long been part of a splendid tandem with two-time reigning AP NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers, who recently re-signed with the Packers. Rodgers was aware during his contract negotiations that Adams “would never play for the Packers again” as “the situation was too far gone,” Rapoport reported.
Adams’ frustrations over contract negotiations, though he kept them largely quiet, date back to last summer, Pelissero noted.
While Adams is leaving behind a sensational tenure with the Packers and Rodgers, he is reuniting with his college quarterback Derek Carr, as the two played together at Fresno State. Adams recently purchased a house “right next to his new QB,” Rapoport noted.
In their two seasons as Bulldogs, Adams led the Football Bowl Subdivision in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, while Carr was atop the FBS in passing yards and passing touchdowns, per NFL Research.
Now, Carr, who’s longed for a legitimate No. 1 receiver, has Adams, tight end Darrell Waller and receiver Hunter Renfrow at his disposal. The Adams deal could also lead to more good fortune for Carr. Rapoport reported the next step will be the Raiders working out an extension for the quarterback, as Adams came to Vegas knowing Carr would be there for a longtime to come.