When the Raiders acquired All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams from the Packers in a stunning trade, it sent shockwaves throughout the NFL, and rightfully so.
Las Vegas saw the AFC West load up like never before, potentially leaving the Raiders in the dust. The Adams trade makes them immediate contenders to win the division and perhaps even reach the Super Bowl.
That’s just part of the story, however.
Adams was considered a lock to remain with the Packers, a perennial Super Bowl contender in their own right thanks to All-World quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Adams reportedly chose Raiders QB Derek Carr over Rodgers, even after the Packers offered Adams a long-term deal that was on par with the contract he received from Las Vegas.
But while the Raiders can boast that Carr’s relationship with Adams — the two were teammates at Fresno State and remain close friends — brought Adams to Las Vegas, there’s one aspect of this unpredictable development that I have to point out.
Adams chose Carr over Rodgers, but would anyone else in the NFL make the same decision?
The answer to that question, unscientifically speaking, is no. Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. Carr is a fine player, but he’s simply nowhere near Rodgers’ level.
For Adams, however, it was the right choice. He grew up in the Bay Area and gets to play for his favorite childhood team. He got the contract he wanted, even though as I said, that money was available with the Packers. Also: he’s in Las Vegas, baby. Needless to say, nobody vacations in Green Bay as they do in the world’s entertainment capital.
But most of all, Adams gets his old QB back. He and Carr won the Mountain West championship at Fresno State, and bonds forged over trophies grow stronger over time. Especially if you haven’t won one since.
As for everyone else in the NFL, I suppose it’s conceivable that some would opt for Carr over Rodgers, though I highly doubt it. Carr is younger than Rodgers and he might be a better leader, too. Rodgers’ personality can be abrasive, according to reputation.
But Adams’ choice does not immediately change who Carr is as a signal-caller — one that often dazzles but has career-long issues scoring touchdowns in the red zone. He also has a consistent turnover problem.
These might sound like minor critiques. But it’s what keeps Carr from elite status. Scoring touchdowns over field goals and turnover differential are major factors every Sunday in the NFL, regardless of total passing yards, accuracy rate, or any other measurement.
The fact that Carr is no Rodgers isn’t an indictment in itself. Rodgers is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. It’s just that one person’s choice doesn’t magically change who Carr is as a quarterback.
Thankfully for the Raiders, Carr has a golden opportunity to climb up the NFL’s QB hierarchy this season and perhaps reach Rodgers’ level. With Adams, WR Hunter Renfrow, and tight end Darren Waller slated to be his top targets, it’s no wonder there’s a swell of optimism in Las Vegas.
There are still pressing roster issues, of course. It is March, after all. Mostly, the Raiders offensive line needs attention and will undoubtedly receive reinforcements before Week 1. Porous blocking by Las Vegas, especially on the right side of the line, nearly torpedoed its 2021 campaign.
Offensive line play in the NFL is almost as important as having quality skill players, especially considering red-zone efficiency and excess turnovers by the quarterback.
Carr’s red-zone woes are perhaps more concerning than his turnovers. Quarterback is a turnover-prone position. Carr and Rams QB Matthew Stafford each had 19 turnovers last season, for example, good for second-most in the NFL. Though only five of Carr’s 13 fumbles were lost by the Raiders. Stafford, on the other hand, fumbled just five times in total.
Adams will help relieve pressure on pass protection with his All-Pro ability to get open anywhere on the field, and new coach Josh McDaniels is a celebrated play-caller on offense, red zone included. But it’s hard to see the Raiders fulfilling expectations if the line fails to open holes in the run game and give Carr time in the pocket.
As of right now, it appears the Raiders offensive line will only receive modest improvements after Las Vegas gave Maxx Crosby a much-deserved contract extension and signed Adams and EDGE Chandler Jones to lucrative deals.
Addressing the O-Line in the NFL Draft will be difficult, too, since general manager Dave Ziegler relinquished his first two picks to acquire Adams. I expect Ziegler and McDaniels to continue to look for upgrades up front all the way up to Week 1, however, so this could change.
But no matter what the offensive line looks like, expectations for Carr, who got a taste of the playoffs for the first time in 2021, will be higher than ever.
He’s stepped up on many occasions throughout his career, including numerous fourth-quarter comebacks. He met every challenge from ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden. And it’s easy to see Carr bringing the Raiders to the next level with Adams and company. But he still has much to prove, unless the conversation is confined to individual, regular-season success.
Can Carr rise to his latest challenge? The answer to that question is yes, it’s a very distinct possibility. But when the season kicks off and his squad finally hits the field, Carr has to be the quarterback Adams remembers from college, rather than the skilled but inconsistent player Carr’s been in his professional career thus far.
Because as we watch the Raiders put their roster together in March, Carr is no Aaron Rodgers. He’s ever so close, however, and Las Vegas is betting the acquisition of Adams is what Carr needs to reach postseason greatness — it’s a gamble that’s certainly worth taking, especially with long odds in the suddenly ultra-potent AFC West.
And who knows. After the 2022 season, it’s possible Adams will no longer be the only person in the NFL to raise his hand and say Carr is a better option than Rodgers.
Because once you win one trophy together, as Carr and Adams have, the confidence to win another is palpable. We’ll know soon enough whether their belief in one another is enough to thrust the Raiders to the top of the AFC West, let alone the entire NFL.
