Debunking the Raiders Waller trade rumors
On Monday, Cheesehead TV’s Aaron Nagler reported Green Bay to be targeting the ’21 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, reiterating a few details of the Davante Adams trade in the process.
In this report, Nagler stated Green Bay attempted to grab Waller in the Davante Adams deal. From there, he added this portion of the deal fell apart when the clubs were reminded it’s against league rules to acquire a player when trading away a player on an unsigned franchise tag.
While both of those points are true, the wording is a bit poor. The choice of words used has led some to believe Las Vegas entertained the idea of trading Darren Waller – Some even going as far as believing a deal involving Waller was agreed upon, before the league shutting it down.
Although that isn’t true, it isn’t hard to see how Nagler’s report was misconstrued, and why some believe the Raiders tried to trade Waller; After all, immediately after mentioning the Packers’ interest in Waller, Nagler states, “a move that was nixed when both sides were reminded that league rules prohibit players being part of compensation for a trade of a player on an unsigned franchise tag”.
That isn’t exactly how the Adams deal happened, though.
It is true Green Bay wanted an undisclosed player, which has since been identified as Waller, and it is also true both sides were reminded of the beforementioned rule, regarding a player on an unsigned tag being traded for another player. What isn’t true, though, is this deal is being entertained by Las Vegas.
After the Adams trade wrapped up, Jeff Howe of The Athletic gave some inside details on the process.
"“The deal then nearly hit a snag when the Packers asked for a player in return. Initially, the Raiders offered their 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-rounder. Shortly thereafter, the Packers asked for the first-rounder and an undisclosed player. It doesn’t sound like the Raiders were going to accept that package, but the sides also realized such a deal actually wasn’t permissible”."
That report was from three weeks ago. Luckily, Howe gave an updated version, which he tweeted out to address Monday’s rumor.
The Packers asked for Darren Waller as part of the Davante Adams trade, per source. The Raiders weren’t going to accept it. Sources also said at the time the league wouldn’t have permitted a player swap in a trade for a franchise player (Adams). https://t.co/UZmtonppQy
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 26, 2022
If none of this is helping you sleep at night, Jeremy Fowler reported, when asked, he got a firm “zero chance” regarding Waller being traded. Waller, who was a team captain last season, still has two years left on his current deal. It makes a lot of sense why the Raiders’ front office is keen on keeping him around.