Tag: Derek Carr Aaron Rodgers

What did Raiders WR Davante Adams really say when asked to compare Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers?

What did Raiders WR Davante Adams really say when asked to compare Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers?

When the Raiders acquired All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams via trade in March, the transaction caught many by surprise and caused quite a stir leaguewide.

Recently, a quote from Adams raised eyebrows in much the same way. It all started when Adams was asked to compare Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr to his previous signal-caller, future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. Though Adams gave a lengthy, insightful answer, a small, juicy portion of his comment made the rounds on social media.

Here’s the tweet from ESPN that took a tiny fraction of Adams’ quote and ran with it. Reporters noted that the quote was taken out of context, perhaps because it seemed that Adams compared Carr to Rodgers too favorably. Rodgers won the NFL MVP award in each of the last two seasons and has four MVP trophies overall.

Yeah, publishing that quote by itself is guaranteed to get a lot of likes on Twitter, that’s for sure. But how well does it represent what Adams actually said?

While I agree that the quote is more accurate and interesting with more context, I believe that this fraction of Adams’ comment represents his answer quite well. I might be in the minority in that regard, so I’ll explain shortly. But first, here’s more of the comment, courtesy of The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, who tweeted the quote in full.

“That’s a tough question. I mean, it’s tough to compare. It’s really apples and oranges there,” Adams said, per Reed and his colleague, Vic Tafur. “You have Aaron, who’s cemented as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. That’s just like comparing me to Jerry Rice. It’d be tough to do because Jerry’s put together what he’s done and it’s undeniable respect for him. And me, I’m still going and there’s still a lot that I got to do to be able to be mentioned with Jerry, I’m aware of that. And I think Derek is also aware of that from a big picture.

“But as far as talent and ability, I mean, it’s really similar if I’m keeping it real.”

Adams went on: “So a lot of similarities [between Carr and Rodgers] but much different, and I think Derek is in a position to where he’s chasing to be one of the all-time greats like that. Like I said, that’s not a slight on Derek whatsoever. I wouldn’t be here if I was slighting Derek, but I don’t think I’m ready to compare myself to Jerry Rice just yet. We’ll see when it’s all said and done, or after some more time, just to be fair overall. And I think the same is with Derek. We’re both chasing it and still got a lot in front of us.”

So clearly, there was much more context surrounding Adams’ quote, as tweeted by ESPN. But when Adams stopped just short of comparing himself to NFL great Jerry Rice, who is arguably the best football player in NFL history, it solidified, in my opinion, what Adams meant regarding Rodgers and Carr.

It all relates to talent and ability, the phrase he used in his viral, out-of-context comment. On the surface, comparing Adams to Jerry Rice is ridiculous if you take Rice’s entire career into account, just as Adams acknowledged in his full quote.

But does Adams, considered by many the best WR in the NFL for a few years now, have the talent and ability of Rice? That’s arguable. Though the two are similar, in that sense, right?

I say the answer is yes. Talent and ability don’t equal high-level NFL production, Hall of Fame induction, Super Bowl wins, awards, or really anything for that matter. But it’s a vital part of the equation. Just as Adams believes in his own set of skills over the long haul, he believes in Carr’s, even when having to compare him to Rodgers.

I myself agree that Carr’s talent and ability are similar to Rodgers. But as I mentioned, talent and ability only get you so far. Carr looks like Rodgers on some plays, as Adams described in his quote. On other plays, especially when he fumbles or comes up short in the red zone, Carr looks much less like an elite QB.

Carr’s situation with the Raiders, with one regime change after another, has also been a factor when it comes to his on-the-field issues.

Overall, however, it seems to me that Adams believes he and Carr can eventually reach heights that rival Rodgers’ and Rice’s stature. And why not? They both have talent and ability that is reminiscent of the all-time greats, they’ve both accomplished a lot already, and each has a freshly signed contract and a lot of football left to play.

That aspect is more evident thanks to another comment from Adams, given during the same press conference that produced his quote about Carr and Rodgers. He has big plans for his career (Jerry Rice-level plans, it seems), and that was part of the reason he left Green Bay. Per The Athletic, Adams said he consulted Rodgers about how much longer his career will last, as he’s advancing in age and might retire well before Adams is finished playing.

“We talked throughout the whole process,” Adams said. “We had talks about his future and what he thinks his duration in Green Bay or just football in general would look like. That played into my decision as well because, where I’m at in my career … I got aspirations of doing really, really big things and being remembered. It wasn’t really a point in my career that I was willing to sacrifice Aaron not being there after a year or two. So, my decision was to be here and he respected that.”

Adams wants to do “really, really big things” in the NFL and swapped Rodgers for Carr. Apples, oranges, or whatever, Adams definitely believes the two quarterbacks have — to use a synonym for similar — comparable QB skills. Adams has a wealth of knowledge on the subject, mind you, as he and Carr were teammates in college and have stayed in close contact over their pro careers.

So while Adams’ quote had a lot more insightful context, I believe the part taken by ESPN captured most, or perhaps all, of what Adams meant, at least in regards to a Carr and Rodgers comparison.

Let’s get back to Carr though because he’s what the viral tidbit was all about. I’ve been critical of Carr’s play over the years when I believed it was appropriate, or when it was clear to me he needed to play better to solidify his status as the Raiders’ QB. I’ve also been quick to praise his best moments.

But heading into the 2022 campaign, Carr has a new contract and is firmly in place as the Raiders’ signal-caller. He has a new coach and a new scheme, led by Super Bowl-winning play-caller Josh McDaniels, and Carr could realistically improve from his unofficial status as a top-12 QB.

In fact, it would take a mere incremental improvement from Carr for his consensus QB ranking to rise dramatically, mostly by improving in the red zone and limiting turnovers. His new coach and No. 1 WR boost his chances of doing so.

Adams and Carr have the talent and ability to take the Raiders to new heights — Rodgers and Rice, Super Bowl-type heights — and that’s what Adams apparently believes they’ll do. Furthermore, that’s what many have predicted they’ll do.

They have a lot of work ahead of them, and they won’t be the only two players on the field for the Raiders, of course. That’s where aspirations are sometimes thwarted by reality. But as long as the Raiders’ offensive line can block, expectations for Las Vegas are sky-high, both inside and outside of its Henderson headquarters.

So I’m not surprised Adams said Carr has talent and ability that’s similar to the reigning MVP. Perhaps Carr can even earn an MVP award of his own, as the entire Las Vegas roster looks to do really, really big things together in the years to come.

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Davante Adams chose Raiders QB Derek Carr over Aaron Rodgers, but would anyone else do the same?

Davante Adams chose Raiders QB Derek Carr over Aaron Rodgers, but would anyone else do the same?

When the Raiders acquired All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams from the Packers in a stunning trade, it sent shockwaves throughout the NFL, and rightfully so. 

Las Vegas saw the AFC West load up like never before, potentially leaving the Raiders in the dust. The Adams trade makes them immediate contenders to win the division and perhaps even reach the Super Bowl. 

That’s just part of the story, however. 

Adams was considered a lock to remain with the Packers, a perennial Super Bowl contender in their own right thanks to All-World quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Adams reportedly chose Raiders QB Derek Carr over Rodgers, even after the Packers offered Adams a long-term deal that was on par with the contract he received from Las Vegas. 

But while the Raiders can boast that Carr’s relationship with Adams — the two were teammates at Fresno State and remain close friends — brought Adams to Las Vegas, there’s one aspect of this unpredictable development that I have to point out. 

Adams chose Carr over Rodgers, but would anyone else in the NFL make the same decision? 

The answer to that question, unscientifically speaking, is no. Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. Carr is a fine player, but he’s simply nowhere near Rodgers’ level. 

For Adams, however, it was the right choice. He grew up in the Bay Area and gets to play for his favorite childhood team. He got the contract he wanted, even though as I said, that money was available with the Packers. Also: he’s in Las Vegas, baby. Needless to say, nobody vacations in Green Bay as they do in the world’s entertainment capital.  

But most of all, Adams gets his old QB back. He and Carr won the Mountain West championship at Fresno State, and bonds forged over trophies grow stronger over time. Especially if you haven’t won one since. 

As for everyone else in the NFL, I suppose it’s conceivable that some would opt for Carr over Rodgers, though I highly doubt it. Carr is younger than Rodgers and he might be a better leader, too. Rodgers’ personality can be abrasive, according to reputation. 

But Adams’ choice does not immediately change who Carr is as a signal-caller — one that often dazzles but has career-long issues scoring touchdowns in the red zone. He also has a consistent turnover problem. 

These might sound like minor critiques. But it’s what keeps Carr from elite status. Scoring touchdowns over field goals and turnover differential are major factors every Sunday in the NFL, regardless of total passing yards, accuracy rate, or any other measurement.   

The fact that Carr is no Rodgers isn’t an indictment in itself. Rodgers is a sure-fire Hall of Famer. It’s just that one person’s choice doesn’t magically change who Carr is as a quarterback. 

Thankfully for the Raiders, Carr has a golden opportunity to climb up the NFL’s QB hierarchy this season and perhaps reach Rodgers’ level. With Adams, WR Hunter Renfrow, and tight end Darren Waller slated to be his top targets, it’s no wonder there’s a swell of optimism in Las Vegas. 

There are still pressing roster issues, of course. It is March, after all. Mostly, the Raiders offensive line needs attention and will undoubtedly receive reinforcements before Week 1. Porous blocking by Las Vegas, especially on the right side of the line, nearly torpedoed its 2021 campaign.  

Offensive line play in the NFL is almost as important as having quality skill players, especially considering red-zone efficiency and excess turnovers by the quarterback.  

Carr’s red-zone woes are perhaps more concerning than his turnovers. Quarterback is a turnover-prone position. Carr and Rams QB Matthew Stafford each had 19 turnovers last season, for example, good for second-most in the NFL. Though only five of Carr’s 13 fumbles were lost by the Raiders. Stafford, on the other hand, fumbled just five times in total. 

Adams will help relieve pressure on pass protection with his All-Pro ability to get open anywhere on the field, and new coach Josh McDaniels is a celebrated play-caller on offense, red zone included. But it’s hard to see the Raiders fulfilling expectations if the line fails to open holes in the run game and give Carr time in the pocket.  

As of right now, it appears the Raiders offensive line will only receive modest improvements after Las Vegas gave Maxx Crosby a much-deserved contract extension and signed Adams and EDGE Chandler Jones to lucrative deals. 

Addressing the O-Line in the NFL Draft will be difficult, too, since general manager Dave Ziegler relinquished his first two picks to acquire Adams. I expect Ziegler and McDaniels to continue to look for upgrades up front all the way up to Week 1, however, so this could change. 

But no matter what the offensive line looks like, expectations for Carr, who got a taste of the playoffs for the first time in 2021, will be higher than ever. 

He’s stepped up on many occasions throughout his career, including numerous fourth-quarter comebacks. He met every challenge from ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden. And it’s easy to see Carr bringing the Raiders to the next level with Adams and company. But he still has much to prove, unless the conversation is confined to individual, regular-season success. 

Can Carr rise to his latest challenge? The answer to that question is yes, it’s a very distinct possibility. But when the season kicks off and his squad finally hits the field, Carr has to be the quarterback Adams remembers from college, rather than the skilled but inconsistent player Carr’s been in his professional career thus far. 

Because as we watch the Raiders put their roster together in March, Carr is no Aaron Rodgers. He’s ever so close, however, and Las Vegas is betting the acquisition of Adams is what Carr needs to reach postseason greatness — it’s a gamble that’s certainly worth taking, especially with long odds in the suddenly ultra-potent AFC West. 

And who knows. After the 2022 season, it’s possible Adams will no longer be the only person in the NFL to raise his hand and say Carr is a better option than Rodgers. 

Because once you win one trophy together, as Carr and Adams have, the confidence to win another is palpable. We’ll know soon enough whether their belief in one another is enough to thrust the Raiders to the top of the AFC West, let alone the entire NFL. 

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