Will Aaron Rodgers be fine without his partner in crime?

photo credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The unvaccinated GOAT, aka Aaron Rodgers, is going to have a tough season ahead of him, according to critics. 

Although he will be the highest-paid quarterback in the league earning a whopping $50 million a year, the 37-year-old QB recently lost his partner in crime - Davante Adams. 

Adams recently got his wish to play for his favorite team, his old college QB, and become the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL when he was traded to the Los Vegas Raiders.  In return, the Packers, in the words of Jeff Bridges, received a “box of scraps” or two draft picks in the first and second round. Although it is very possible the Packers could draft two elite wide receivers, the likeliness of those players matching Adams’ production is rare. It should also be noted that the Packers aren’t a team that signs or trades for star wide receivers - or any weapons that would help Rodgers offensively. 

Adam’s blockbuster trade and the Packers’ draft-centric mentality leave the four-time league MVP with a horrendous and inexperienced offensive cast comprising of Allen Lazard, Amari Rodgers, Robert Tonyan, and Randall Cobb - the only pro-bowl WR on the team. Now, critics, such as Skip Bayless, say the QB will be “exposed” without his friend to “bail him out.”

But Rodgers has been here before - and has done perfectly fine. 

In the 7 games Rodgers has played without Adams, he hasn’t lost - completing 70% of his passes for an average of 311 yards and throwing a 19-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio. The teams Rodgers beat in this streak, such as the Chiefs, Saints, and Cardinals were mostly playoff contending teams. In addition, since Matt LaFleur joined the Packers three years ago, the Packers have averaged 27.2 points per game. Without Adams, they average 31.6. 

Yet, none of these are excuses for Rodgers’ attitude or horrible performance in the playoffs. But maybe a reliance on Davante Adams was exactly the problem for the QB - and maybe another motivation. In fact, the Packers are just 5-4 when Adams has over 140 plus receiving yards. 

So, despite having a lackluster receiving core, Rodgers may give us another MVP-like season because, well, in the words of Davante Adams, “ he is the greatest quarterback to play the game.”