The entire AFC West spent the offseason loading up on fresh talent. The Las Vegas Raiders were no exception, going out and acquiring star wideout Davante Adams...
Aaron Rodgers Jokingly Responds to Davante Adams' HOF Comments About Him, Derek Carr
Jul 27, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 09: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers and Allen Lazard #13 of the Green Bay Packers celebrate after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers was apparently paying attention when Davante Adams said he was going from one Hall of Fame quarterback to another Hall of Famer.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the reigning back-to-back NFL MVP was asked about getting Allen Lazard back after the wide receiver skipped offseason activities in an attempt to get a new contract.
"I mean, it's always tough going from Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer," Rodgers cheekily replied.
Aaron Rodgers on going from Davante Adams to Allen Lazard as WR1:
“I mean it’s always tough going from Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer. From Davante to Allen, it’s gonna be a transition, but he’s capable of a lot.” pic.twitter.com/pBveMG5Qqh
In an interview last week, CBS Sports' Josina Anderson asked Adams about the adjustment from Rodgers to Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
"Any time you change quarterbacks from Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer ... it's gonna be a little bit of an adjustment," Adams responded.
After the comment received some blowback, Adams clarified his sentiment without retracting anything he said while speaking to reporters Sunday:
"Derek's career, honestly, you look at the numbers that he's had and what he's had to work with and the adversity that he's had in Oakland and coming to Vegas and the type of stuff that's been going on here in the past, which, hopefully we're putting all that stuff to bed, but, yeah, I didn't deliver that message the way that I had in my head. So later, when I saw [the original quote] written out, it kind of made my stomach drop a little bit because I was like, 'Oh, god, here we go. People are going to blow this up and take everything I say, and we're the only team in camp right now.'"
The Rodgers-Adams connection was one of the most successful quarterback-receiver pairings in NFL history.
After a decent start to his career in 2014 and 2015, Adams averaged 142 targets for approximately 97 receptions and 1,200 receiving yards per season, along with 11.5 touchdowns, from 2016 to 2021.
Despite their success together, Adams reportedly rejected a contract offer from the Packers this offseason that would have paid him more than the Raiders' offer of five years and $141.25 million. The five-time Pro Bowler wanted to be in Las Vegas and reunited with Carr, who was his college teammate for three seasons at Fresno State from 2011 to 2013.
Rodgers is very aware of what he's doing at all times. ESPN's Kevin Van Valkenburg noted in January that the 38-year-old highlighted Atlas Shrugged on his bookshelf during an appearance on ESPN's Monday Night Football "ManningCast" last season because "it was the book with the biggest spine on his bookshelf" and he "suspected that alone might annoy certain people."
Even though Rodgers trolled his former teammate, this is an important training camp for the Packers. They are betting on Lazard to up his game and make up for some of the production lost when Adams got traded.
Lazard is coming off his best season in 2021. The 26-year-old had 513 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 40 receptions in 15 games. He has only had two games with at least 100 yards in four seasons.
The Packers have won 13 games during the regular season in each of the past three seasons but have fallen short of the Super Bowl every year.
Mark Murphy 'Very Confident' Davante Adams Will Be Part of Packers’ Hall of Fame
Jul 25, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Davante Adams attends the 15th Annual Sports Business Journalism Awards at New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on May 18, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy doesn't hold any ill will toward Davante Adams despite the wide receiver pushing for a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders in March.
According to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith, Murphy recently said he expects Adams to eventually be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame.
"I have tremendous respect for Davante," Murphy said. "Obviously he was a great player for us, and as fine a person as you’ll ever see in the game. The way he handled this entire situation was really outstanding, and I am very confident that he will come back and he will be a member of our Hall of Fame."
Adams spent the first eight years of his career in Green Bay and quickly developed into one of the best receivers in the NFL. His chemistry with Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was unmatched, as the two of them set the franchise record for most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver tandem with 68.
In 2021, Adams set career-highs with 123 catches and 1,553 receiving yards while adding 11 touchdowns on his way to earning first-team All-Pro honors for the second straight year. The 29-year-old has also been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons.
Despite his success in Green Bay, Adams sought to be closer to his home state of California, which led to his trade to Las Vegas. Joining the Raiders also reunites him with Derek Carr, who was his collegiate quarterback at Fresno State.
Adams recently raised some eyebrows when he compared Carr to Rodgers, who is the two-time reigning NFL MVP.
"Anytime you change quarterbacks from Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer ... it's going to be a little bit of an adjustment," Adams said last week. When speaking to reporters on Sunday, he stood by that statement.
"What I'm not going to do is take away from that statement because, why is Derek not a Hall of Famer? What I meant, I left one key word out of there because that's not exactly what I meant," he said. "But I do think that Derek's career is Hall of Fame-worthy, and why not? Does he have the MVPs right now? No. Has he won a Super Bowl? Not yet. That's obviously what we're chasing."
HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 24: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders catches a pass as he practices during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 24, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Davante Adams is already making headlines with his new team.
The wide receiver turned heads when he seemed to call Derek Carr a surefire future Hall of Famer like Aaron Rodgers during an interview with CBS Sports on Friday: "Any time you change quarterbacks from Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer ... it's going to be a little bit of an adjustment."
He provided some more context to the situation Sunday.
"But what I meant to say was, 'Even if you go Hall of Famer to Hall of Famer, it's an adjustment,'" he said, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "I wasn't saying, 'Hall of Famer Aaron to Hall of Famer Derek.' So, I'm not retracting my statement at all."
He also compared the situation to a rapper delivering lines in a song:
"Being a rapper, it's very vital, you've got to have the bars, obviously. You know you've got to have the bars. The line's got to be there. But a very, very vital and critical piece of being a rapper is the delivery, right? I wasn't a great rapper the other day.
"What I'm not going to do is take away from that statement because, why is Derek not a Hall of Famer? What I meant, I left one key word out of there because that's not exactly what I meant. But I do think that Derek's career is Hall of Fame-worthy, and why not? Does he have the MVPs right now? No. Has he won a Super Bowl? Not yet. That's obviously what we're chasing."
In fairness to Carr, few quarterbacks in NFL history can match Rodgers' resume.
The Green Bay Packers signal-caller is a four-time MVP, one-time Super Bowl champion, 10-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection who has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in 10 different seasons.
Adams helped him put up some of those numbers as one of the best receivers in the league during his eight seasons with the Packers, five of which saw him selected to the Pro Bowl.
Carr is a three-time Pro Bowler himself, but he has never won a playoff game and is just 57-70 in his career as a starter. The winning is where he is lacking compared to some of his peers, but Adams could help change that.
"But what I'm not going to do is say Derek is not going to be a Hall of Famer because at the end of the day I believe—and this is not putting any expectations or any added pressure on him because he puts that type of pressure on himself because of what he expects every time he touches the field," Adams said.
Carr and Adams were college teammates at Fresno State and will be front and center for the Raiders for years to come after the wide receiver signed a five-year deal with the team following the trade that brought him over from Green Bay.
If they can compete in a daunting AFC West for the foreseeable future and add some playoff success to the individual accomplishments already on Carr's resume, the Hall of Fame won't be out of the question.
NFL Fans Sound off on Davante Adams, Travis Kelce and Top 10 WR, TE Madden 23 Ratings
Jul 18, 2022
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams during practice at the NFL football team's practice facility Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Henderson, Nev. (AP Photo/John Locher)
EA Sports is beginning to roll out the player ratings for Madden NFL 23, which means it's time to begin arguing about Madden player ratings.
Wide receivers and tight ends are taking center stage for now, with Las Vegas Raiders star Davante Adams and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce rated as the best at each of the two positions.
Adams also joined the 99 Club, the only wideout to receive the distinction so far this year.
Madden welcomes Davante Adams back into the 99 club for the second straight year 🔥 @brgridiron
The five time Pro Bowler's honor was naturally a source of discussion on social media:
Davante Adams is a 99 Overall in Madden. Also, water is wet.
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) July 18, 2022
There was particularly some surprise Cooper Kupp didn't join Davante Adams in the 99 Club after leading the NFL in the three major receiving categories. The Los Angeles Rams star sits at 98 overall:
Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase getting an 87 overall rating and falling outside of the top 10 wideouts was met with shock, too, and the man himself even commented on the perceived slight:
Kelce is coming off his sixth straight 1,000-yard season, while San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle missed three games. Because of that, Kittle falling slightly behind Kelce didn't cause much of a stir.
But fans managed to find other points of contention:
Madden doesn't think Pat Freiermuth is a top 15 tight end! That's hogwash. He will be a MONSTER this year.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 02: Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
A revolution occurred in professional football at the turn of the century. The St. Louis Rams offense emerged as the Greatest Show on Turf and led the NFL in passing for three consecutive seasons.
The streak ended after the 2001 campaign. During that period, the Rams, who were led by Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, averaged 4,992 passing yards per season.
Twenty years later, nine different teams threw for 4,500 or more yards. Further comparison shows only two teams eclipsed 4,000 passing yards in 2001. Nearly half of the league passed that number last season.
Yes, the NFL is a passing league.
To take full advantage of how the game has been trending over the last two decades, teams need weapons on the outside. Those playmakers are now more valuable than ever as the league continues to evolve, and the influx of talent from the collegiate ranks creates more opportunities in the passing game.
Last season, all 32 teams had three or more wide receivers on the field for 65 percent of the snaps, according to Sharp Football's Warren Sharp.
ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 24: Isaac Bruce #80 of the St. Louis Rams carries the ball against the Washington Redskins at the Edward Jones Dome on December 24, 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams won in overtime 37-31. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Let's backtrack for a second. While Warner's "American Underdog" story became the basis of a Hollywood film, his wide receivers shouldn't be considered secondary characters. Isaac Bruce is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Torry Holt went on to become a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Az-Zahir Hakim served as a deep threat. And Ricky Proehl played 17 seasons in the league. The talent found among this group helped to create a storybook ending.
Traditionally, NFL economics were built around the concept of four premium positions.
Quarterback, offensive tackle, pass-rusher and cornerback held the most value based in part on how they affected passing games. Wide receiver officially crashed the party this offseason as an avalanche of movement occurred at the position, which helped reset the market.
The Green Bay Packers traded the game's best wide receiver, Davante Adams, to the Las Vegas Raiders, and he subsequently signed a record-setting $140 million contract. The Miami Dolphins acquired Tyreek Hill from the Kansas Chiefs and signed him to a $120 million deal. The Dallas Cowboys flipped Amari Cooper and his $100 million contract to the Cleveland Browns. The Tennessee Titans decided to trade A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles during draft weekend, and he then signed a new $100 million agreement.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 03: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball during OTAs at the NovaCare Complex on June 3, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Those are just the biggest moves of the offseason (so far).
Currently, 12 different wide receivers are under contract with average annual salaries of between $20-30 million. Nine of those deals were agreed upon within the last few months.
Only three offensive tackles are making $20 million per season. Only one has at least a $100 million deal compared to four at wide receiver. A similar financial trajectory has taken place at cornerback, where three players at the position make $20 million or more annually, with two claiming at least $100 million in total value.
Scarcity remains the biggest difference between the traditional premium spots and the upstart position.
Only 32 starting quarterbacks exist, and some argue the NFL can't even find enough quality options to fill all of those spots. Only so many men are big enough, strong enough and athletic enough to protect a quarterback at a high level from left or right tackle. Cornerbacks are arguably the most athletically gifted players on a football field.
Meanwhile, anyone with enough length, flexibility, core strength and explosivity tends to find his way to the defensive front to harass opposing signal-callers.
Wide receiver is different. Various body types, speed levels and skill sets can thrive in today's game. For example, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans is 6'5", 231 pounds, and one of the league's best at working down the field and sideline, whereas the Las Vegas Raiders' Hunter Renfrow is 5'10", 185 pounds, and extremely slippery working out of the slot. Yet the two finished only three yards apart with last season's production.
Therein lies the value of being elite in a specific role.
Defenses are adept at keying in on specific talents in order to take them out of the equation or adjusting to make sure a player or a concept won't repeatedly beat them. When a team has wide receivers with complementary skill sets, the position is far more difficult to defend. An opponent can't consistently roll coverage toward one player or bracket one option.
Aside from Adams, there's not a wide receiver who consistently takes over games with little to no help from his fellow targets.
It's important not to have the same types of weapons. An "X" receiver, "Y" receiver and those working in the slot typically have different body types and abilities, much like the starting five on a basketball court.
On the gridiron, a squad should want a taller target, a vertical threat and someone with the quickness to quickly separate while working from the slot. Not everyone runs the routes the same way or has similar ways to win against tight coverage.
Those differences often lead to cohesion and greater effectiveness within the offensive scheme.
The NFL's Top Five WR Corps
The league's best wide receiver corps have players with varied skill sets as well as plenty of depth.
It's not just about the top individual wide receivers. That's why it became necessary to exclude the likes of the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints, though all three were strongly considered.
The five best wide receiver corps for the 2022 season are filled with high-end producers, significant potential and plenty of quality options.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - MAY 24: Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins catches the ball during the Miami Dolphins OTAs at the Baptist Health Training Complex on May 24, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
5. Miami Dolphins (Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Erik Ezukanma, Lynn Bowden Jr.)
The Dolphins paid an exorbitant amount to acquire Hill, sending a first-round pick, a second-round selection, two fourth-rounders and a sixth-rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs, but his on-field performance could be well worth it. The 28-year-old wideout is the game's premier deep threat and the league's most explosive target.
Jaylen Waddle broke the rookie record last season with 104 receptions. Cedrick Wilson Jr. set career highs in 2021 with 45 receptions for 602 yards with the Dallas Cowboys. All three present inside-out versatility. The Dolphins also added Erik Ezukanma, who is a 6'2", 206-pound target, in this year's fourth round.
HENDERSON, NEVADA - JUNE 07: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders catches a pass during mandatory minicamp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on June 07, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Since Adams became the focal point of a passing attack in 2017, he hasn't had a teammate manage more than 690 receiving yards. During that same span, Adams went to five Pro Bowls and averaged 101 catches, 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns per season. Defenses knew exactly where the ball was going to go and still couldn't do anything about it.
Now Adams is part of the Raiders, and he'll have a little more help than he's accustomed to. Renfrow was one of 10 receivers last season with more than 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. In March, Adams praised Renfrow, telling reporters, "He might be able to teach me a few things."
Neither Demarcus Robinson nor Keelan Cole is a stronger third or fourth option compared to some of the other depth found on this list, but both are established veterans capable of 400-plus-yard efforts.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Cooper Kupp #10 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
3. Los Angeles Rams (Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell)
Cooper Kupp is coming off the single greatest season a wide receiver ever produced with 178 receptions for 2,425 yards and 22 touchdowns through the regular season into the playoffs and on his way to being named the Super Bowl LVI MVP. His contributions from the slot and as a blocker are vital to the offense's success.
Last season, the Rams had Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. on the roster, but injuries affected their playing time. Neither is currently with the team.
The Rams did sign Allen Robinson to a three-year, $46.5 million free-agent deal. The 28-year Robinson excels at contested catches down the sideline and already has three 1,000-yard campaigns. Van Jefferson posted an 802-yard campaign last season. Ben Skowronek is a 6'3" target, and Tutu Atwell, whom the team drafted in last year's second round, presents 4.32-second 40-yard-dash speed if he can crack the rotation in 2022.
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 23: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Mike Evans (13) attempts to get past the Rams defenders during the NFC Divisional game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 23, 2022 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, Tyler Johnson, Breshad Perriman)
If ranking the best wide receiver corps were based purely on depth, the Buccaneers would run away with the title. Obviously, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are elite targets. Evans set an NFL record with eight 1,000-yard campaigns to start his career. Godwin is less than three years removed from finishing among the top three in receiving yardage. Injuries, including a torn ACL last year, derailed his last two campaigns.
General manager Jason Licht wasn't content with his options on the roster and signed Russell Gage to three-year, $30 million free-agent contract after he posted back-to-back seasons with at least 66 receptions and 770 yards. Tyler Johnson, Breshad Perriman, Scotty Miller and Jaelon Darden could make the Week 1 roster.
The team even signed the top two leading receivers at the FBS level in Jerreth Sterns and Deven Thompkins as undrafted free agents.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Tee Higgins # 85 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a touchdown pass against the Los Angles Rams during the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
1. Cincinnati Bengals (Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Mike Thomas, Trent Taylor)
The Cincinnati Bengals organization found itself at a crossroads last offseason. The team could have gone with either the top offensive lineman to properly protect quarterback Joe Burrow or select the best wide receiver prospect in the draft class. The franchise chose the latter path and benefitted greatly.
Ja'Marr Chase is special. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year grabbed a league-high 10 touchdown receptions of 15 or more yards last season. The "X" receiver has yet to fully mature as a route-runner.
"Last year I was just out there running routes, having fun again," Chase said in May, per Jay Morrison of The Athletic. "Now I’ve got all the small details down, like learning how to set people up before the next route. And I feel more comfortable with the offense."
Chase isn't the only reason why the Bengals are so dangerous. Tee Higgins is a massive 6'4" target who's coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign. Tyler Boyd is one of the game's elite slot receivers, and he has two previous 1,000-yard seasons. That's three 1,000-yard receivers on one roster who have the potential to be the team's leading pass-catcher on any given Sunday (or Monday or Thursday).
Unsurprisingly, every team counted among the top five either traded for an elite target, signed one to massive contract extension and/or sunk a top-10 pick into the position.
Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.
Brett Favre Expects Davante Adams to Have Drop-off After Raiders Trade from Packers
Jul 2, 2022
GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 20: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) talk during a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field on October 20, 2019 in Green Bay, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre is
expecting a statistical drop-off from superstar wide receiver Davante
Adams following his trade to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Favre told TMZ Sports in an interview
published Saturday it all comes down to the difference between the
quarterbacks, the Packers' Aaron Rodgers and Raiders' Derek Carr,
saying he'd be "shocked" if Adams maintains the same numbers
after the deal.
"I think Derek Carr is a very good
quarterback," Favre said. "But he's not in Aaron's league
yet. May never be. And that's no disrespect."
Adams emerged as one of the NFL's best
receivers during his eight-year tenure in Green Bay. His 69 touchdown
catches over the past six seasons are nine more than any other
wideout.
He's coming off a terrific 2021
campaign where he recorded career-high totals in receptions (123) and
receiving yards (1,553) while finding the end zone 11 times in 16
games. He earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and second
straight first-team All-Pro selection.
In all, the 29-year-old California native tallied 669 catches for 8,121 yards and 73 touchdowns in 116
contests with the Packers.
Adams' longstanding desire to become the NFL's
highest-paid receiver ultimately led to the end of his time in Green
Bay, and he got his wish as he signed a five-year, $140 million
extension with the Raiders that includes a $28 million average annual
salary.
He already has a built-in rapport
with Carr after the duo played college football together at Fresno
State. The receiver caught 38 touchdowns in 26 appearances between
2012 and 2013.
While that should make for a smooth
transition, the question is whether his stats will remain among the
league's elite following the move.
For his part, Adams told reporters in
June he thinks Carr's skill set isn't that far off from Rodgers':
As far as talent and ability,
it's really similar, if I'm keeping it real. They throw the ball a
lot different. Derek's gonna fire it in there, and you gonna know
that thing's coming quick. Aaron's got the ability to tighten that
core up and flick that ball to you. So the release is a lot
different, but being able to get the ball to you late, if they see
you coming out of a break, not many quarterbacks can get it to you
before you get to the sideline if you're outside the numbers already.
Having two guys like that with really strong arms, and understand the
game, the mental part of it, is another similarity that they have.
They both obsess over it and they know everything that's going on out
there.
That said, the other factor in play is
the Raiders' pass-catching depth, which is better than what the
Packers showcased in recent years.
Adams was the unquestioned top target
in Green Bay, and while he'll still be the No. 1 WR in Vegas, his new
team also features a top-tier slot receiver in Hunter Renfrow and one
of the league's best tight ends in Darren Waller.
So it's possible his numbers dip a bit
in 2022 through no fault of Carr or himself. It just figures to
become a more balanced passing attack than he dealt with alongside
Rodgers, where he averaged 153.5 targets over the past four years.
Even with a more modest target share,
Adams is a strong bet to remain among the NFL's most valuable
offensive playmakers this season.
Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Davante Adams Headline NFL's Top-Selling Jerseys of 2022
Jun 29, 2022
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO - JUNE 13: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos throws during a mandatory mini-camp at UCHealth Training Center on June 13, 2022 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Russell Wilson has yet to make his debut in a Denver Broncos uniform, but he's already scored a win.
The NFL revealed the highest-selling jerseys of 2022 so far on Wednesday, and Wilson topped the list:
The Broncos acquired Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks this offseason in a blockbuster trade. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection instantly makes Denver a playoff contender as the team tries to end its six-year postseason drought.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had the second-highest selling jersey, followed by Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, who is also in a new home after being traded from the Green Bay Packers.
Also of note, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett ranked fourth on the list ahead of the likes of Tom Brady, Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp and Patrick Mahomes.
Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb Says He Models Game After Davante Adams, Reggie Wayne, More
Jun 21, 2022
FRISCO, TX - JUNE 02: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) walks off the field during the Dallas Cowboys OTA Offseason Workouts on June 2, 2022 at The Star in Frisco, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
When it comes to perfecting his performance, Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb tries to be a student of the game.
Lamb explained Tuesday on the Open Mike podcast (at the 27:40 mark) how he's "always picking brains from the guys that are very experienced and guys that I actually look up to."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fq1lUeK9sY
The 2021 Pro Bowler recounted a conversation he had with Odell Beckham Jr. that helped him develop in the NFL and said he was eager to build a rapport with Beckham. He also cited Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon as wideouts from whom he tried to model his game.
Through two seasons, Lamb has caught 153 passes for 2,037 yards and 11 touchdowns. During that time, he had to share the spotlight a bit with Amari Cooper. With Cooper now a member of the Cleveland Browns, the 23-year-old is the clear No. 1 option in Dallas' passing game.
There's little reason to think Lamb won't rise to the occasion, and in due time, he's likely to be an exemplar for the next generation of pass-catchers coming into the league.
