Rodgers says Packers trading Adams ‘surprising’

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he was “surprised” by the team trading former receiver Davante Adams this offseason, in his first public comments since signing a three-year, $150 million extension and the trade of his No. 80: : Aaron Rodgers said he was “surprised” by the team trading former receiver . This was his first public comments since signing a three-year, $12 and the trade of his No.

Speaking during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers said he believed his return to the Packers would influence their ability to strike a deal with Adams and that he had communicated with the two-time All-Pro before returning. It was a little surprising that Davante was there. I had thought that he would return when I made my decision,” Rodgers stated. “I was open and honest with him about my plans, my future, and where I see my career going. He also asked me how many years I wanted to play. But I felt like he was going to be back, didn’t obviously turn out that way, but I have so much love for ‘Tae and appreciate the time we spent together and definitely wish him the best in Derek [Carr] in Vegas. But that’s a huge hole to fill. “

In March, Green Bay traded Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2022 first-round and second-round pick. The Raiders then signed him to a five-year, $141. 25 million contract that reset the wide receiver market. His departure left the Packers’ wide receiver room thin — a situation exacerbated when Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Kansas City Chiefs a week later.

Even with their additional first-round pick, the Packers did not select a receiver in the first round of this year’s draft, something they have never done in Rodgers’ 17-year career. He was not upset or surprised by the decision and said he had been communicating throughout the night with the team. The four-time NFL MVP said that teams should be cautious because there are “a lot” of receiver busts in first round. He did call former Alabama receiver Jameson Williams the most “NFL ready” receiver in the draft, despite his recovery from a torn ACL; Williams was drafted by division rival Detroit at No. 12 overall.

With the top six receivers off the board — Rodgers hinted that the Packers only had first-round grades on those six — general manager Brian Gutekunst went heavy on defense and heavy on Georgia Bulldogs with linebacker Quay Walker at No. 22 and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt at No. 28.

Gutekunst said he explored the possibility of trading up to take a receiver that he liked.

“There was a couple, there was a few,” Gutekunst said. “That run occurred early. They are really good players. However, I think you have to consider the asking price. Does it make sense? “

Rodgers was on the air with McAfee when the Packers picked Wyatt, a player Rodgers said he knew the Packers were hoping to land. Rodgers actually spent a day at the team’s facility last week, even though he hadn’t been there for offseason training. Gutekunst and Rodgers met at that point in order to discuss the current state of the team. Gutekunst claimed that Matt LaFleur, coach, was having a text conversation with Rodgers during the draft.

“Aaron, he’s unbelievable,” Gutekunst said. “Our communication, I’m referring to where we were and where are now, is night and day. That is something I am very grateful for. Last week, he was here for a day. We spent some time talking about our team, where we think we might be heading, and what we might do to move forward.

“That input, that conversation is always welcome and certainly valuable to me. However, I find myself in this process with our scouts. We are pretty narrow-sighted, but as I said, there was a lot texting going on right next to me. “

Gutekunst said he won’t force a receiver pick on Friday when he has two second-round picks (Nos. 53 and 59) and a third-rounder (92).

” “I don’t think that we have to,” he stated. “I believe there are some really good receivers in this draft, and we’ll just have to wait and see how it turns out. We still have nine picks, so we have plenty of ammunition. We’ll see how it goes, whether we pick and move around or stick with our guns. “

Rodgers also said he felt like the Packers were “in the mix” for some of the receivers on the trade market this offseason but admitted there are complexities to adding a receiver in that manner.

“There’s not a lot of teams that probably want to trade receivers to Green Bay, so I think we’re probably at the back of the line for a lot of these teams,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I think if your not going to pay Davante — obviously we traded him, and he wanted to move on — but going outside and paying another guy…I don’t know that that makes a lot of sense. I feel like we’ve been in the mix but does San Francisco really want to trade Deebo Samuel to us? I’m sure Packer Nation will wonder why we didn’t trade a receiver. But at this point, you have to have faith in the organization. And faith that we’ll find a way for Matt’s offense, just like it has always been.

“It’s not going to be any different this year — we’re going to be in the mix. “

Rodgers, 38, noted Green Bay’s success finding talent at receiver after the first round — specifically in Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones and Adams.

Rodgers said the Packers will miss Adams but added that it’s part of the transactional nature of the NFL.

“It’s a tough business, it’s a wonderful profession. He said that those of us who have been [able] to the game for so many years realize this fully. “There are many things that happen that will surprise you, even though there are many. Based on the number we offered Davante, I thought that being able to play with him for a few years would make a big difference. But in the end, I believe he was ready to move forward and wanted my help in making it happen. It was difficult to be in because I loved him and cared about him. I want him to be happy and that’s what he’s going to be missed. “

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.