One year ago to the day, the Packers showed just how much they valued Davante Adams. They rewarded his second straight season with double-digit receiving touchdowns to the tune of a four-year $58.75 million deal. 

I initially questioned making Adams the fourth-highest paid receiver in average salary in 2017. According Spotrac, Adams’ $14.5 million was higher than Alshon Jeffery, T.Y Hilton, Dez Bryant and yes, Julio Jones. 

I wasn’t just a little bit wrong, I was completely wrong. The Packers, and namely general manager Ted Thompson, deserve a heap of praise for not only having the foresight to see Adams’ greatness but also for saving the Packers money in the first two years of his contract. His cap hit goes from $10.8 million in 2019 to $16.6 million in 2020. 

And now, Adams has been worth every penny. Many people like to claim that Adams would be nothing without the services of Aaron Rodgers. However, without Adams, Green Bay’s offense would still be idling in the parking lot this year. He has accounted for 31 percent of the receiving yards, 52 percent of the receiving touchdowns and 30 percent of the receptions. For all of the inconsistencies this season, Adams has been the Packers’ offensive MVP. He has had double-digit targets in nine of 15 games. And now Adams is on the doorstep of breaking Sterling Sharpe’s and Jordy Nelson’s franchise records. All he needs are two catches and 134 receiving yards. 

Various wide receiver lists have floated around the Twittersphere this season. Here’s mine: 1. Antonio Brown, 2. Davante Adams and 3. DeAndre Hopkins. If you’re surprised that Adams is that high, you shouldn’t be. He is versatile enough to line up anywhere — he can beat a corner on a deep post and he has shown a knack for tiring out linebackers from the slot. Adams also is catching 65 percent of balls thrown his way and the only other receiver with 100 receptions and double-digit touchdowns with that high of a catch percentage is Hopkins at 70 percent. 

Now here’s the scary part for opposing defenses. Adams just turned 26 on Christmas Eve. The Packers not only have one of the best receivers in the game, they will have him in his prime for the next four years at least. And if Adams can produce the numbers like he did this season without a consistent No. 2 receiving option, just imagine when Equanimeous St. Brown and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are trusted weapons?

So enjoy the energy, the athleticism and the work of Adams. Does he benefit from being on the receiving end of one of the greatest passers ever? Obviously yes, but this year he has shown that he doesn’t need Rodgers’ blue ribbon stuff to produce. 

The Packers haven’t had much to play for this season but pride still matters with this crew. And it’s pride that will carry Adams to the finish line carrying two team records. 

Adams is having the best receiving season in Packers history. Sharpe was prolific because he was so physically imposing, but I’ll take the electric Adams who is catching six percent more of his passes than Sharpe did in 1993. 

Keep overlooking Adams because he continues to grind out catches, first downs and in the case of last week, a game-winning touchdown reception in overtime. 

Cory Jennerjohn has over 10 years of sports media experience writing for several outlets in Wisconsin, Indiana and Florida. Twitter: @CoryJennerjohn

Picture-perfect toe-tap from Davante Adams

: FOX #ARIvsGBpic.twitter.com/n3cMfCcxgI

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 2, 2018