After the Packers finalized a new deal with Aaron Rodgers this offseason, Green Bay fans expected the team to present Davante Adams, who had been franchise-tagged, with his own lucrative contract. So, about that...
On Thursday, the Packers surprisingly agreed to trade Adams to the Raiders in exchange for first- and second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 29-year-old will reunite with his college quarterback, Derek Carr, in his desired location and give the offensive unit a true No. 1 option at receiver.
MORE: Grading the Adams trade for Packers, Raiders
Adams should also be happy knowing he will now be the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Here's a breakdown of how much the five-time Pro Bowler will earn.
Davante Adams contract details
Adams signed a five-year, $141.25 million contract with the Raiders (average annual value of $28.25 million), according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. His deal includes $67.5 million in fully guaranteed money, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
In reaching this agreement with Las Vegas, Adams accomplished his goal of becoming the highest-paid wide receiver in the league.
Davante Adams' 5-year deal is not only the largest ever for a wide receiver, it's the largest contract for *any* non-QB in NFL history both in terms of average annual value ($28.5M) and total value ($142.5M).
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 18, 2022
A truly massive contract.
Why didn't Davante Adams sign a new contract with the Packers?
Adams was coming off the best season of his career in terms of receptions (123) and receiving yards (1,553), and Rodgers had already been locked up. The choice seemed obvious, at least on the surface. Why didn't he just stay in Green Bay?
It turns out Rodgers knew Adams would never play for the Packers again as Rodgers was negotiating his contract. The situation was "too far gone," according to Rapoport. The relationship between Adams and the Packers was not in a good place after Adams made it clear he would not play on the franchise tag, and Adams had his sights set on the Raiders.
Green Bay and Las Vegas had quietly been working on the trade for a few days, and the deal came together on Thursday.
"The Packers, I am told, were willing to go there in terms of the money, structure, whatever it might have been," Pelissero said. "They were willing to compete, if not go higher than what the Raiders did on the contract, but this was about Davante Adams wanting to be in Las Vegas, back with his old college teammate, Derek Carr.
"Adams recently built a house [in Las Vegas]. It was Adams who wanted the change of scenery here."
