The Green Bay Packers got over their biggest hurdle of the offseason, convincing Aaron Rodgers to return to the team. The two sides agreed on a monster extension that will keep Rodgers in Green Bay likely through the end of his career.
The organization can now put all of the rumors of Rodgers’ future to rest. He is a Packer and will remain that for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to keep their entire superstar tandem intact.
All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams will not be returning to the Packers. They placed the franchise tag on him and he let it be known that he would not play the 2022 season out under the tag. With their relationship too far gone to be mended, the Packers traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders, as he will now be the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
Losing Adams is a big blow. Whenever a team loses a player as talented as him it will be difficult to replace him. But, his loss doesn’t mean that the Packers cannot still be contenders for the Super Bowl this season.
Sure, the offense may not be as explosive, but Green Bay has some assets to add quality depth to the position. With the money opened up by Rodgers’ extension and Adams leaving, the team should have enough cap space to bring back Marquez Valdes-Scantling, another free-agent wide receiver. All three of the team’s top pass catchers last season were free agents, as Allen Lazard is as well.
Green Bay could also use one of their two first-round picks on a wide receiver. The No. 22 overall pick from the Raiders and their pick No. 28 should be in prime position to snag one of the many good pass-catchers in this year’s draft class.
Since they do have a second first-round selection, the Packers should set their targets on Jameson Williams. Williams was the likely No. 1 wide receiver in this class before suffering a knee injury in the National Title Game in January.
That knee injury pushed him down draft boards, as he was a borderline top-10 pick before the injury. Now, he is likely going to slide into the bottom third of the first round, which is in prime position for Green Bay to pounce.
Adams was a big part of the offense’s success in recent seasons, but there is only so much impact a wide receiver can have on the game. If the quarterback is unable to get the ball in his hands, he is rendered rather useless.
Replacing Adams’ production will be a tall task, but losing him doesn’t knock the Packers off the contending tier. Finding a productive wide receiver is a lot easier than finding a franchise quarterback. As long as they have Rodgers under center, they are a dangerous team and will be one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
