Adams isn’t on the decline like Robinson was in 2022
The Los Angeles Rams made their first major free agency splash on Monday by signing All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams. Almost three years after LA whiffed on another high-end pass catcher in Allen Robinson, the team dipped their toes back into the veteran WR market. The Rams are unlikely to get burned by a bad deal this time around.
Adams is the anti-Robinson in every conceivable way. Of course, their deals are remarkably similar—A-Rob received a three-year, $46.5 million contract, whereas Adams’ deal is reportedly worth $46 million for two years—but the comparisons end there.
Robinson entered his tenure with the Rams already on the downturn, so the deal was always meant to be a disaster for LA. During his last season with the Bears, he amassed 38 receptions for 410 yards and a touchdown after back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns from 2019-20.
The significant dip in production should’ve been a red flag for the Rams’ front office, but it wasn’t.
Instead, Robinson was given a pass for his stark decline since he had primarily played with quarterbacks like Andy Dalton and rookie Justin Fields. Even then, truly great receivers like Adams do not completely disappear from their respective offenses when faced with adversity, as Robinson did in Chicago. That is why it came as no surprise that he flamed out after 10 starts in Hollywood.
Adams has reached the 1,000-yard plateau in five straight seasons, the last two coming with a mix of subpar QB play and organizational disfunction. Despite the last two stops not working out as planned, Adams continued to find a way to remain productive at a high level. Perhaps the third time on the move will be the charm for him as he attempts to win a Super Bowl.
Back when the Rams signed A-Rob, the signing was viewed as a luxury acquisition for a team coming off a championship. History will not repeat itself in LA because Adams is walking into a more favorable situation. As much as fans touted the 2022 Rams early, it was clear that the team never stood a chance at defending its title.
Robinson unknowingly walked into a rebuild, while Adams is entering a team with championship aspirations after nearly making it to the NFC Championship. Plus, he is a clear upgrade over Kupp, who hasn’t been the same player since his Triple Crown season.
Signing Davante Adams was an excellent, relatively low-risk move that could pay off hugely if the Rams make a deep run in January.
