Watching Aaron Rodgers suffer is always going to be fun for Chicago Bears fans. The Green Bay Packers quarterback made himself the center of attention again this offseason, teasing retirement for months. Then he acted as if nothing was ever amiss (again) while signing a massive contract extension to make him the highest-paid player in the NFL. All is right with the world now. Except the pursuit of more money in this league has consequences.
Rodgers found that out the hard way when the Packers were forced into a no-win situation regarding superstar wide receiver Davante Adams. He wants to be the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. Deservedly so. The problem is Green Bay had nowhere near enough cap space to make it work. So unless Adams was willing to offer a discount, they were given little choice. They traded the elite receiver to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for draft compensation.
Just like that the most potent QB-WR combo in the league is broken up.
Blockbuster: Packers are trading Pro-Bowl WR Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for two prime 2022 picks, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2022
Davante Adams get a new contract worth $141.25M over 5 years, source say. He gets an average of $28.25 average. https://t.co/YTAxHov0Rj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2022
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This continues a wild trend of the past month where every team in the AFC West division keeps trying to outdo each other with blockbuster moves. Denver traded for Russell Wilson. Los Angeles traded for Khalil Mack and signed J.C. Jackson. Now Las Vegas reunites Adams with his old college teammate, Derek Carr. Meanwhile, the Packers are left in a state of unknown. Adams was the engine that ran their entire passing game. Without him, it is difficult to say whether Aaron Rodgers can maintain his MVP form in 2022.
Also, don’t forget Green Bay lost Marques Valdez-Scantling, two starting offensive linemen, and their best tight end to free agency as well. Perhaps some of them might be re-signed now but it won’t be enough to cover up such a loss. It is fair to assume the team will be aggressive early in the draft finding help at wide receiver. They haven’t drafted one in the 1st round since Javon Walker way back in 2002. That streak may finally end.
