Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo an upgrade whether Davante Adams realizes it or not

Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders last season, and while Adams had a stellar year and received an All-Pro nod, the team had a poor 6-11 record.

The Raiders have since moved on from QB Derek Carr and replaced him with former 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo. 

Adams, however, wasn't on the same page with the staff and front office, telling The Ringer, "We don't see eye-to-eye on what we think is best for us right now."

While Adams says he's trying to be "as optimistic as possible," what he's saying is pessimistic in nature. Carr, his college teammate at Fresno State is gone and he has to get over it. Just because Garoppolo plays a different brand of football than the constant deep shot style that Carr's known for doesn't make Jimmy G a less effective passer.

Garoppolo ranks third all-time in yards per pass attempt with 8.3, and sixth all-time in passer rating at 99.6. Garoppolo has a career regular season record of 40-17 and is 4-2 in the playoffs with one Super Bowl appearance. Carr is 63-79 in the regular season and 0-1 in the playoffs. 

Per Football Database Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Roger Staubach, Joe Montana and Lamar Jackson are the only QBs to have a higher career-winning percentage than Garoppolo among quarterbacks with at least 50 starts. As 49ers WR Deebo Samuel once said, Garoppolo is a "pure winner."

There are multiple Pro Football Focus metrics that indicate Garoppolo can bring cohesion to the Raiders' offense. Garoppolo had a 78.8 PFF passing grade against zone coverage in 2022, the ninth-best in the NFL while Carr ranked 30th at 64.8. Further, Garoppolo ranks third over the past four seasons on seam routes with a 96.7 PFF passing grade. Carr's 62.2 PFF passing grade last season with head coach Josh McDaniels was one of the worst in the NFL. 

There's a reason McDaniels wanted Garoppolo in Las Vegas—Garoppolo knows McDaniels' scheme well and had success in it during his time with the New England Patriots. With McDaniels as his OC with the Pats, Garoppolo was 63-of-94 (67.0%) for 690 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

Adams says the Raiders have to "figure out the big picture," but the reality is the sooner Adams gets on board with Jimmy G as QB1 the quicker that blank canvas can develop into fine art. The Raiders were going nowhere with Carr. Garoppolo is a proven winner and leader who brings the Las Vegas offense hope, whether Adams realizes it or not.