Grading the first half of offensive players brought in this free agency.
Davante Adams, WR
- Contract: 5y, $140m (potential out after 3y)
Heading into the off-season, the Raiders’ biggest need was a wideout. A few weeks later, a blockbuster happens, as Las Vegas trades for the no.1 receiver across the entire league.
The Raiders gave up their first and second-round picks to acquire Green Bay’s Davante Adams, in a move that set the NFL world ablaze. What was a rumor for years became a reality in less than two months with the new regime.
Really, how could this grade be anything other than an A+? The Raiders were in desperate need of a wideout, to the point they likely draft one in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
If you want to build on that logic, Davante Adams was acquired for what was ultimately one second-round pick as additional compensation. Instead of using that first-rounder on a receiver, they bundled it with a second-rounder for the best in the business at the position.
The contract, which makes him the new highest-paid receiver in NFL history, might look a bit over-the-top on the surface. However, when you consider he’s the best there is, and now gets paid like the best there is, it’s simply paying a player exactly what he deserves.
On top of the above, the Raiders actually get Adams for cheaper than his maximum market price, as his former team offered up even more cash in an attempt to keep him around.
Grade: A+