The shock has subsided and the Green Bay Packers will press on without Davante Adams. The All-Pro at the peak of his game was traded by the Packers Thursday night to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for their first and second round draft choices. Adams then signed the richest contract ever for a wide receiver at 5 years, 141 million dollars.
A lot has come out since the trade story broke Thursday evening. Adams was unhappy over having the 20 million dollar franchise tag applied, keeping him well below top market money at his position. The Packers reportedly were in the same financial ballpark, if not more than what the Raiders were offering, to retain Adams on a long-term extension. Even as the ink was drying on the massive contract Aaron Rodgers signed last week, reports say he was aware the Packers were in trade discussions with his favorite receiver. But Adams was apparently hell bent on cutting ties with the team that drafted him in 2014 and he’ll join a team one report said he’s always wanted to play for and with his former Fresno State teammate Derek Carr at quarterback.
So General Manager Brian Gutekunst got what he could in return, the 22nd overall choice in the first round and the 53rd overall pick in the second from Las Vegas.
Now the Packers will have 13 picks in next month’s NFL draft, four in the top 59, enough ammunition to swing a trade up into the top third of the first round to get their pick of the litter among college prospects. They haven’t selected a receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.
This year’s college class is loaded with talent and speed. Among the top prospects are Drake London of USC, Jameson Williams of Alabama, a pair from Ohio State in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, Johon Dotson of Penn State and Taylor Burks from Arkansas.
With the 20 million tag money from Adams now back in the coffers, the Packers are expected to get back into the bidding for unrestricted free agent Marquez Valdes-Scantling who is getting interest from several other teams.
Gutekunst may also consider looking for veteran help. Among the players on the open market are Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller of Texas whom the Packers made a run at last year, Jamison Crowder, JuJu Smith Shuster and even Odell Beckham Jr coming off an ACL tear in the Super Bowl. With the Los Angeles Rams adding former Bears receiver Allen Robinson, Robert Woods might also be put up on the trade market.
Chicago plucked away another Packer receiver Thursday as Equanimeous St. Brown reportedly agreed on a one year deal.
That leaves the Packers with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Malik Taylor and Amari Rodgers in the wide receiver room. The casting call for a new collection of targets for the NFL’s highest paid quarterback is underway.
The Packers also announced more changes and additions to Head Coach Matt LaFleur’s staff on Thursday. Jerry Montgomery has been with the team for 8 seasons and the defensive line coach has been given a promotion to defensive run game coordinator under DC Joe Barry. Ryan Downard, in his 5th year with the team will now be the safeties coach. Ramsen Golpashin has been hired as the team’s offensive quality control assistant, Michael Spurlock will be a special teams quality control coach and Quinshon Odom has been brought on as a coaching assistant under the league’s minority fellowship program.
