Davante Adams silenced critics who believed he was a product of Aaron Rodgers throwing him the football. The 30-year-old had 100 receptions, 1,516 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns in the 2022 season. Although Adams and Rodgers have gone their separate ways, with the veteran signal-caller heading to the New York Jets this offseason, the 39-year-old still considers the Las Vegas Raiders star the best at his position. Speaking of the best players at their position, running back Josh Jacobs has yet to sign his franchise tag, even putting out a cryptic message. However, with Dalvin Cook now a free agent, could the Silver and Black look to move on from Jacobs?
Aaron Rodgers has high praise for Raiders WR Davante Adams
Rodgers left the Green Bay Packers after 18 seasons, and one of his best-receiving targets was Adams. While the new Jets quarterback sees a lot of potential in wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner.
However, while Rodgers sees a lot of potential in these two players, they have yet to reach Adams’ level for now.
“The thing I like and that I’m encouraging is more communication across the ball. We got at some point possibly the best corner and the best receiver in the NFL,” Rodgers said on Friday (h/t NFL.com). “There’s a legit possibility I think for those two guys. Maybe not this upcoming year, I still think that Davante is in a league of his own, but those two kids are so talented.”
Adams will again eye another 1,000-plus receiving yards and 10-plus touchdown season with Vegas. The Raiders receiver will look to produce another solid campaign with Jimmy Garoppolo likely under center.
An interest in Dalvin Cook?
The Minnesota Vikings released Dalvin Cook on Friday after they spent months looking for a trade partner. Jacobs has yet to sign his franchise tag and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio speculates whether the Raiders would rescind the tag and sign Cook.
“There’s a tangible link between the Raiders and Cook,” Florio wrote. Raiders running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu worked in that same position for the Vikings from 2017 — Cook’s rookie year — through 2021. That’s five years of experience between position coach and player. It gives the Raiders a level of information and intelligence about Cook that most other teams don’t have.
“It would still be tricky to pull it off. First, the Raiders would have to move discreetly; if Jacobs were to catch wind of the potential signing of Cook, Jacobs could accept the tender, making the $10.1 million fully guaranteed.
Then again, Jacobs might relish the opportunity to hit the market. But what would he get at this stage of the offseason? The money isn’t there, not like it was in March. He could hard pressed to get $10.1 million for 2023 from another team.”
Jacobs is two years younger than Cook and at a position like running back, where players can burn out once they reach their late 20s and early 30s, so it would be eye-brow raising to see Vegas go after the former Vikings star.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/AJ Mast
Raiders: 5 Free Agency Options Vegas Should Consider Signing