In March 2022, the Green Bay Packers traded All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for two high draft picks. The Raiders, coming off a Wild Card berth in 2021, were able to add Adams to a talented offense that included running back Josh Jacobs and tight end Darren Waller.
The Packers used the trade as a way to continue to get younger on the offensive side of the ball. Two years after the blockbuster move, both sides appear to be pleased with how the trade looks.
Today, we’ll look at who won the trade that kickstarted a rebuild in record time.
Davante Adams Trade Details
Raiders received:
- WR Davante Adams
Packers received:
- 2022 first-round pick (LB Quay Walker)
- 2022 second-round pick (traded to Colts)
Players Involved in Adams Trade
Adams’ run with the Raiders has been an interesting case study. On one hand, he has recorded over 100 catches in each of his first two seasons with the club, but he also has had several public outbursts criticizing both the offense and coaching staff.
There’s also the reality that the New York Jets (led by Aaron Rodgers) have continuously shown interest in trying to acquire the All-Pro wideout.
Green Bay certainly got their fair end of the deal, though. Walker, who was selected with one of the Packers’ incoming draft picks, has recorded over 100 tackles in his first two seasons and has quickly become regarded as one of the more complete inside linebackers in the game today. He has 10 passes defended to go along with an interception and fumble recovery throughout his first two seasons.
Christian Watson, the 34th pick out of North Dakota State in the 2022 NFL Draft, was seen as a project coming into the league following Adams’ departure but has shown spurts of greatness.
Since his selection, Watson has shown to be more than capable as a deep-threat wide receiver … so long as he stays healthy. In 20 starts over his career, Watson has recorded 69 catches for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Who Won the Adams Trade?
Both teams missed the playoffs with losing records in 2022 and had to find new starting quarterbacks for this season. In the Raiders’ case, they are still searching for that future quarterback role while Adams and new head coach Antonio Pierce look to retool the entire offensive regime.
As good as Adams is on the field, though, he pales in comparison to the kind of moves the Packers were able to make following the trade.
One year after getting rid of Adams, Rodgers was traded to the Jets in 2023. It forced Jordan Love into the Packers’ starting quarterback role, alongside Watson and several other solid, young wideouts as well.
Just two years after trading Adams, the Packers were not only back in the postseason but were a quarter away from reaching the NFC Championship Game as the seventh seed.
Walker and Watson both played key roles; it’s safe to say Green Bay comes away as the winner of the deal simply off that reality.