The biggest loser of the Davante Adams trade is Davante Adams

While the Davante Adams trade negatively affected both the Packers and Raiders, the All-Pro wideout might end up the most disappointed of all the parties involved.

Outside of the blockbuster trades involving quarterbacks, no acquisition in 2022 garnered more attention than the one involving Davante Adams. The move sent shockwaves through the NFL and kicked off one of the wildest offseasons in recent memory.

While the notion of Adams hitting the market never seemed implausible, few believed he would leave the Green Bay Packers as long as Aaron Rodgers remained under center. The team applied the franchise tag to Adams as a stopgap maneuver, essentially putting his negotiations on hold while Rodgers mulled his next move. When the two-time reigning MVP officially re-signed on March 15, it seemed a fait accompli that a new deal for Adams would soon follow.

Instead, Adams would officially depart in a matter of days. Unable to convince the All-Pro wide receiver to sign a multiyear extension and continue playing with Rodgers, Green Bay sent Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for first- and second-round picks. The trade closed the books on one of the league's premier quarterback-wideout tandems and forced the Packers to completely reimagine their offensive identity.

As for Adams, he went on to sign a market-setting contract upon his arrival in Las Vegas, though he would alter admit that the Packers offered more. The trade also provided Adams the opportunity to reunite with Derek Carr. The two played together for three seasons at Fresno State, setting up both to become second-round selections in the 2014 NFL Draft.

In most instances, multiple years would unfold before assessing the "winners" and "losers" of such a trade. However, the Raiders expedited the process. After dropping two of their last three games and all but falling out of the playoff race, head coach Josh McDaniels announced Wednesday that the team will bench Carr for the remainder of the season. Jarrett Stidham will start with Chase Garbers serving as the backup, leaving Carr inactive for the final two weeks.

The decision not only marks the effective end of the Raiders' Super Bowl aspirations for 2022, but it also signals several discomforting possibilities for the franchise's future. While Adams moved his life and career to Las Vegas in part to play with Carr, the two might only spend one season together in the NFL. Despite the quarterback signing an extension of his own back in April, the team would only need to absorb about $5.6 million in dead money to trade or release him before the third day of the new league year.

Benching Carr now strongly suggests that the Raiders intend to move on from him in some form or fashion before next season. Since learning of the decision, the quarterback has left the team, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe. Carr's absence further bolsters the notion that his time with the franchise will soon come to an end.

If and when Carr departs, Adams would endure a more significant downgrade at QB than he ever anticipated following his trade to Las Vegas.