Why an ESPN analyst doesn't love the Davante Adams trade for the Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders didn't want to be the forgotten team in the AFC West, so they made a trade this week with the Green Bay Packers, acquiring superstar wide receiver Davante Adams for a first-round pick and a second-round pick. Adams is a five-time Pro-Bowl wide receiver who is viewed by many as the […]
The Las Vegas Raiders didn't want to be the forgotten team in the AFC West, so they made a trade this week with the Green Bay Packers, acquiring superstar wide receiver Davante Adams for a first-round pick and a second-round pick.
Adams is a five-time Pro-Bowl wide receiver who is viewed by many as the best wide receiver in the NFL. He immediately agreed to a 5-year, $141.25 million extension with Las Vegas.
On the surface, this deal seems like a massive steal for the Raiders. Quarterback Derek Carr gets an elite wide receiver which should allow Las Vegas to legitimately compete with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West.
But not everyone views this deal as a slam dunk for the Raiders.
ESPN analyst doesn't love the Davante Adams trade for the Raiders
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell isn't as high on this deal for the Raiders as others seem to be. Barnell doesn't think the Adams deal will age well for Las Vegas.
The longtime ESPN analyst pointed out seven reasons why the Raiders could possibly regret the Adams trade.
Here are the cliff notes.
- Adams might not age well. Barnwell pointed out that Julio Jones led the NFL in receiving yards at age 29 (the 2018 season). Two seasons later he had only 771 receiving yards. Three seasons later he was released by the Titans after an injury-riddled season.
- Adams might not be as good with Carr as he was with Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
- Adams doesn't automatically make the Raiders a contender in the AFC West. Las Vegas wasn't just a player away last season.
- The Raiders could think they're following the Rams' blueprint of "going all in", but they gave up draft capital for a soon-to-be 30-year-old wide receiver, not a stud quarterback.
- Giving up the draft picks might not be worth it. Adams is getting paid more than any wide receiver ever. He has to play to a Hall of Fame level to be "worth it". The draft picks just have to be "borderline starters" to be worth it.
- Adams' large deal with cause the Raiders salary cap problems in the future.
- Does new head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler know what they're doing? This isn't the type of trade that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would've ever made. So why is McDaniels, a longtime Patriot employee, ok with it?
Barnwell makes a lot of great points. However, while this trade might not be a good idea for the Raiders, that doesn't also mean that it's a win for the Packers.
Adams remaining in Green Bay would've been the best-case scenario for the Packers. Green Bay's roster is worse without him.
But maybe it stings a little less for Packers fans knowing that the deal isn't necessarily great for the Raiders.
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