Former Packers WR Davante Adams on living in Green Bay: 'I'm a West Coast dude'

The Green Bay Packers wide receiver room is a little duller this season. The Packers traded away their most productive 2021 wide receiver, Davante Adams, to the Oakland Raiders this offseason. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is trying to work with the new corps, but there are many drops in the learning process for the rookies. The Packers will miss Adams this season.

The feeling might not be mutual. Davante Adams is leaving chilly Green Bay for the warm desert. Las Vegas offers attractions he didn’t get with the Packers. Recently, Adams opened up with ESPN’s Tim Keown about how the transition from the Packers to the Raiders is going for him. When reflecting on why he wanted to move, Adams mentioned how chilly and costly travel to Green Bay can be, and how his family mostly resides on the West Coast:

“The time came where I had to think about my overall life and happiness,” Adams says. “Where do I want my kids to grow up? I love Green Bay but I’m a West Coast dude and a lot of family — especially my grandparents — haven’t been able to see me play in close to a decade of playing pro ball. It’s all the same people that’s coming — and it’s not a whole lot. It’s hard to get into Green Bay, and it’s expensive, too — I’m like, why the hell is it expensive to get into Green Bay?

“I had to leave every single weekend of OTAs to come back to California. Literally every single weekend I was flying back and forth, two flights each way on commercial flights. Four flights each week just to see my family. I wanted to be able to do OTAs and be with my team but not have to leave my wife and kids. That’s huge for me. I’m a family man, and that was hella unnecessary travel.”

As much as it will hurt the Packers this season, the move will benefit the team in the future. The Packers were able to draft important players like Quay Walker and Christian Watson. They also saved money that the Packers spent on free agents. Adams is aging for a wide receiver, so the Packers were able to save value for the future when he’s not as productive.

Adams will get a chance to be closer to family. That’s important to him and should keep him happy being able to be around them without a hectic travel schedule. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is no Rodgers, but Adams has the tools to elevate offense and help make the team a playoff contender. The trade will work out for the Packers and Adams, even if it will sting Green Bay fans to watch Adams play in silver and black.