Chris Boline
Life sure is good for people who make Vegas sports bets with consistency. That’s because the team was able to pull off its blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers, and Raiders fans betting big after the Davante Adams trade should come as no surprise whatsoever. Adams is one of the best wide receivers in the game and he made it clear his dream has always been to play for the Raiders.
Now, those dreams are going to come true for him in the best way possible, as he’ll now be reunited with his former college quarterback Derek Carr. The two played together at Fresno State and they’ve remained incredibly close ever since. While Adams had always dreamed of winning the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, he and the Packers front office couldn’t get on the same page contract-wise.
This opened the door for Las Vegas to step in and offer Green Bay a monster deal in exchange for Adams. Adams is a First-Team All-Pro wideout for good reason. He’s a yardage machine and one of the best route runners of his generation. Adams is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career. Now, he’ll be ready to keep things rocking with the Raiders after so many brilliant games at Lambeau Field.
For the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, it’s of course not going to be easy for them to keep moving forward without No. 17 out on the field. Rodgers and Adams had developed incredible chemistry, which was always so great to see on the field. That chapter in Adams’ book is now over, however, as he’ll now be ready to begin this next step in the AFC with the Raiders. Just how good can Las Vegas be next season?
Thank you, @tae15adams 💚 pic.twitter.com/m1Vnqe3p9i
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 18, 2022
Oddsmakers still think the Chiefs will win the AFC West
Despite the addition of Adams, the oddsmakers still think the Chiefs will win the AFC West next season. Kansas City has dominated the division and they’ve been busy making strong moves as well. The team was able to restructure the contract of Frank Clark, ensuring the star defensive lineman will be back with the team next fall.
However, the offense has also gotten stronger, with KC signing Juju Smith-Schuster to a contract. Smith-Schuster is a former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He re-signed with the team the last offseason and he was hoping to have a huge year. However, Smith-Schuster suffered a serious injury and had to undergo season-ending surgery.
Now, though, he’s ready to rock for the Chiefs. Per Vegas, the Raiders hold +600 NFL odds to win the AFC West. Kansas City has been set at +135. The Chargers and Broncos also have higher odds than the Raiders, which feels like a bit of a surprise. The big thing here for the Broncos is that they traded for Russell Wilson.
Meanwhile, for the Chargers, they’ve pulled off some great moves as well, including trading for pass-rusher Khalil Mack. Las Vegas will have a huge uphill climb to try and win the division but don’t write them off. Bringing in a player like Adams, who is now the highest-paid wide receiver in the game, will be a monster move for them.
There's a new route-running duo for the @Raiders. 😤@tae15adams | @renfrowhunter pic.twitter.com/xxqSospu2f
— NFL (@NFL) March 22, 2022
Leaving Green Bay isn’t easy for Adams
As you might have been able to guess, leaving Green Bay isn’t easy for Adams. From the moment he arrived to Green Bay, Adams has solidified himself as a true standout. Despite never winning a title with the team, despite having high Super Bowl odds, the Packers’ offense was always lethal with Adams out there. It’s why the city will always mean so much to him.
“To the city of Green Bay and its fans…putting on the green and gold jersey and competing for you has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Adams said on Instagram. “From day one, you welcomed a kid from the Bay with open arms and made me and my family feel at home there. I can never repay you for your gratitude, but just know that this city will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
That quote above shows you just how hard this all is for Adams. While playing for the Raiders has been a childhood dream for him, that doesn’t mean he’s just going to forget about all the unreal memories he had with the Packers. The fanbase loves him and they’re still calling out general manager Brian Gutekunst for trading him.
The decision has been made, though, and Carr is jacked up to be throwing the ball to Adams. The two are going to be ready to put on a show once Week 1 gets here. Obviously, Raiders fans can’t wait to see what the two can do together. It could turn out to be a special season for the Raiders and you can expect more people to check out sportsbooks and place even more wagers on the team moving forward.
