The dream of Davante Adams’ return is over in Green Bay. And it sure looks like it was never a realistic scenario. On Sunday night, a day ahead of the legal tampering period, the star wide receiver signed a two-year, $46 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams.

The idea of playing for the Rams started for Adams when quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a possibility there. In the end, the team decided to adjust Matthew Stafford’s deal, but playing on the West Coast with a big contract and a great quarterback was too good of a situation to pass up.

Reasons why it wouldn’t happen in Green Bay

Even though the Packers were reportedly open to bringing Adams back, there was more than one reason why it wouldn’t ultimately happen. First, general manager Brian Gutekunst doesn’t have a track record of bringing back players he moved on from.

And three years ago, the Packers made a conscient decision of trading Davante Adams away to the Las Vegas Raiders when he didn’t want to be on the team anymore. Sure, the Packers could have forced their hand. But they didn’t. And in circumstances like these, Gutekunst doesn’t tend to look behind.

The second reason is the combination of money and age. Gutekunst has already mentioned he doesn’t like to add pieces in the tail end of their careers, especially when it demands a significant investment.

And while Adams is still producing at a high level, he’s 32 and will make $23 million per season on the Rams. That’s a lot of money for a player who certainly won’t be what he once was for the Packers.

For Adams himself, a return to Green Bay didn’t make that much sense. He left the team for a reason, and while Jordan Love has established himself as a good starting quarterback since, the idea of living on the West Coast was always appealing to Adams for family matters.

Pressure for another option

Without Davante, the wide receiver free agent market is rough. The best options at this point are older players like Chris Godwin, Stefon Diggs, and Amari Cooper, or players with limited production like Darius Slayton.

That puts more pressure on the Packers to add a top wide receiver via trade, if Gutekunst truly wants to add a real number one. DK Metcalf was the most logical option, but he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and now Brandon Aiyuk seems to be the alternative.

Davante Adams on the Packers again would be nice. However, it was much more a fan desire than a realistic outcome. After all, he will be an NFC rival for the first time.