Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers was ‘surprised’ by Davante Adams trade

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he was “surprised” by the decision to trade two-time All-Pro receiver Davante Adams last month in his first public comments since signing a contract extension with the only NFL team he’s ever played for.

While speaking Thursday night on Pat McAfee’s SiriusXM and YouTube show, Rodgers said he believed that his own three-year, $150m extension that ensured his return for an 18th season with the Packers would prompt Green Bay’s front office to come to terms with Adams.

“It was a little surprising with Davante,” Rodgers said. “Obviously when I made my decision, I was still thinking he was going to come back. I was very honest with him about my plans and my future and where I saw my career going, as far as how many years I want 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 big hole to fill.”

The Packers received an extra first-round and second-round pick for shipping Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. But they came no closer to finding new targets for the 38-year-old Rodgers during Thursday’s night’s first round of the NFL draft, passing up on a chance to boost their receiving depth with either of their first-round choices. They instead continued loading up on defensive players from Georgia by selecting linebacker Quay Walker with the 22nd overall selection and taking tackle Devonte Wyatt six picks later.

Focusing on defense in the first round is nothing new for the Packers.

Green Bay’s selection of Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick in 2020 is the only time in the last 11