Getty Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr.
For almost a year, the Las Vegas Raiders had been linked to wide receiver Davante Adams, with quarterback Derek Carr going out of his way to recruit Adams last summer. But after the Green Bay Packers placed the franchise tag on Adams on March 8 and quarterback Aaron Rodgers announced that same day that he would continue to play for the Packers, it looked like any chances the Raiders had to land Adams were all but over.
Then, Adams told the Packers on March 14 he would not play on the franchise tag, reopening the door for a reunion between close friends and college teammates Carr and Adams.
On March 17, the Packers dealt Adams to the Raiders, and Carr sent his new teammate a simple message on Twitter: “Welcome home.”
The team Raiders gave up their 2022 first and second-round draft picks in the deal for Adams. Not only that, but they also signed him to a five-year contract worth $141.25 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Raiders had struggled to find a consistent No. 1 wide receiver ever since they drafted Carr in 2014. The team now has one locked up for the next five years and he just might be the best in the NFL.
Welcome home @tae15adams 🏴☠️
ALL the latest Raiders news straight to your inbox! Subscribe to the Heavy on Raiders newsletter here!
Carr & Adams Formed Excellent Duo at Fresno State
Some might look at this trade and wonder why the Raiders gave up so much draft capital just for the right to make Adams the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. To some teams, this deal would not make sense. But it works for the Raiders because of the connection that Adams and Carr already have.
In just two years together at Fresno State, Carr and Adams connected on 233 passes for 3,031 yards with 38 touchdowns. In his two years at Fresno State (2012-13), Adams set 14 Mountain West Conference records and 11 school records with Carr as his quarterback, according to a March 17 story in The Fresno Bee.
Even though the two haven’t played together on a football field in 10 years, they should immediately become one of the most prolific wide receiver-quarterback duos in the NFL.
Raiders Had to Stay Relevant in AFC West
Sure, the Raiders could’ve just waited until the draft and landed a stud wide receiver in the first round, but the AFC West is shaping up to be the toughest division in the NFL. Based on the other moves in the AFC West this offseason — including quarterback Russell Wilson and edge rusher Randy Gregory going to the Denver Broncos and cornerback J.C. Jackson and pass rusher Khalil Mack going to the Los Angeles Chargers — it seemed the Raiders had to make major acquisitions to keep pace with their rivals.
The trade for Adams shows the Raiders’ commitment to Carr. Though he may be the fourth best quarterback in the division behind Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, he’s capable of going blow for blow with them now that he has Adams. The new-look Raiders offense could be their most loaded since the days of Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
Las Vegas was one of two teams in the division to make the playoffs last season.
READ NEXT: Raiders Lose Star CB to Hometown Team After Making Push to Re-Sign: Report