Davante Adams trade a gamble both Packers and Raiders could lose

Most trades have a clear winner and loser, but Thursday's shocking trade of Davante Adams might not work out for either the Packers or Raiders.

In the end, the Green Bay Packers sent shockwaves through the NFL by trading away a franchise cornerstone. They just didn't move the one many expected.

Thursday night, the Packers agreed to send All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. In return, Green Bay will receive the 22nd and 53rd overall picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Las Vegas also came to terms on a five-year, $141.25 million contract for Adams, the largest contract ever for a wideout.

For a variety of reasons, the move came as a surprise when ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport broke the story in unison. While Adams made no secret of his discontent over receiving the franchise tag, the subsequent reports of strained negotiations followed a familiar script that often still results in an agreement. And while Adams didn't formally tie his fate to that of Aaron Rodgers, it seemed reasonable to assume one would not return to Green Bay in 2022 without the other given their strong personal and professional relationship. When Rodgers signed his multiyear extension earlier in the week, few questioned that Adams would eventually follow suit.

In actuality, Rodgers made his decision fully aware that Adams would push for a trade, arguably the wildest part of the story. Now, the most prolific quarterback-receiver tandem in Packers history has broken up on the verge of a potential Super Bowl run.