Aaron Rodgers has played with some great receivers over the years including Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb, and James Jones. However, it’s starting to look clear who his top two targets have been over his career. The former Packer Jordy Nelson, and the current great Davante Adams. Nelson’s career as a Packer is over, but Davante Adams is on his way to having a prolific Packer career. Let’s take a look and compare the two.
Davante Adams
Davante Adams came into the NFL in 2014 as a second-round selection. Since then he has become one of the best in the league while putting up insane numbers. While he only has three 1,000-yard seasons he’s fallen three yards short twice. Adams is by far number 12’s favorite target since Jordy left, especially in the Red Zone. Since 2016 Adams has 53 receiving touchdowns which leads the NFL over that span. In terms of yards, Adams has amassed 6,223 receiving yards with four games remaining in 2020. Overall, Adams’ seven-year career has yielded impressive numbers.
- 6,223 Yards
- 57 Touchdowns
- 64.8 Yards/Game
- 12.1 Yards/Reception
- 96 Games Played
Adams is 28 years old and is under contract through 2021. It’s hard to imagine Green Bay not signing him to an extension if he continues to play like the best wideout in the NFL.
Jordy Nelson
Jordy Nelson is without a doubt one of the best wide receivers to put on the Green and Gold. Like Adams, Jordy was drafted in the second round and ended up becoming one of the best draft picks the team has made in recent memory. Nelson played nine years in Green Bay and put up great numbers. Obviously, it would be unfair to Davante Adams to compare his seven-year Green Bay career to Nelson’s nine. So let’s take a look at Nelson’s first seven seasons.
- 6,109 Yards
- 49 Touchdowns
- 58.2 Yards/Game
- 15.3 Yards/Reception
- 105 Games Played
Overall
In their first seven seasons, Adams has more yards and touchdowns despite playing eight fewer games. However, Nelson’s big-play ability is shown through his greater yards per reception. Ultimately, both have been proven great targets, but Adams is on pace to beat Nelson’s career numbers if he earns himself a new contract in Titletown.
Both guys have had great Packer carers, but Jordy Nelson has one thing Davante Adams is itching for, a championship. Could this be the year Adams gets his ring to solidify his Packers legacy?
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