PALM BEACH, Fla. — Matt LaFleur reflected Tuesday morning at the NFL owners’ meeting on one of the more surprising situations to unfold during a wild NFL offseason: trading star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Matt LaFleur reflects on Davante Adams trade
The Green Bay Packers‘ coach obviously didn’t want the organization to have to trade one of the most dangerous downfield weapons in the game, but that was Adams’ preference. He wanted to become the highest-paid receiver in the NFL on a five-year, $141.25 million contract and to reunite with Raiders quarterback and former Fresno State teammate Derek Carr.
The Packers had already broken off extension discussions with Adams before training camp. Adams was later offered a contract that would have paid him similar money to what he got from the Raiders, but that wasn’t what he wanted.
“That was one of those things those decisions are never easy to make,” LaFleur said Tuesday morning during the NFL owners’ meetings. “Unfortunately, it was one that we had to come to. I think a lot of it was driven by Davante, I’m going to tell you. But there’s no sense in looking back. We’re moving forward. We appreciate everything he’s done, obviously.”
Who will Aaron Rodgers throw to?
Having Aaron Rodgers back is a much happier topic of conversation for LaFleur to delve into. After a lengthy, introspective time, Rodgers ultimately came back to Green Bay on an upgraded contract that pays him $50 million annually.
Rodgers contemplated his options, including a potential trade to the Denver Broncos or retirement, before making his return to Green Bay known.
“I actually received a text message that confirmed Aaron was coming back,” LaFleur recalled. “I was in an offensive meeting. I actually darted out right away just to make sure I read it the right way before I let everybody know. I would say that I had pretty good feelings about it since the Super Bowl ended up until that point. Until you know, you really don’t know.”
Now, a huge question remains in the wake of these franchise-shaking events.
The Packers’ top four wide receivers are Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Juwann Winfree, and Amari Rodgers. Green Bay can look at free agents, including Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller, Julio Jones, and A.J. Green. The Packers have four of the first 59 selections and could draft a potential replacement for Adams.
The Packers have also been scouting a wide receiver class that includes Ohio State wideouts Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Penn State standout Jahan Dotson, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, and Alabama star Jameson Williams.
Besides losing Adams, the Packers also lost out on free agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Equanimeous St. Brown signed with the Chicago Bears.
“It’s a lot to replace in terms of production and the type of leader he was for us,” LaFleur said of Adams. “But again it was one of those deals you never want to back but sometimes you have to make.”