Seattle Seahawks: Jamal Adams is worth the world

All-Pro safety Jamal Adams has the Seattle Seahawks on his trade list.

The Seattle Seahawks have a hefty decision to make. Since the dissolution of the Legion of Boom, the team has desperately needed a superstar defensive back. Shaquill Griffin posted a promising campaign in 2019, but he’s still far from an All-Pro. However, one of the best safeties in the NFL, Jamal Adams, might hit the trade market soon. Should Seattle bite?

ESPN’s Rich Cimini broke the news Thursday afternoon that Jamal Adams wants out of New York. The All-Pro safety informed the Jets that he wants to be traded, but the New York Daily News‘ Manish Mehta reported that New York hasn’t granted Adams’ agent permission to find a trade partner yet.

Adams’ beef with the organization that drafted him at sixth overall in 2017 stems from the lack of progress on a contract extension. The New York Jets already picked up his fifth-year option, meaning Adams is under contract for at least two more seasons. However, after seeing several safeties sign record-breaking deals in the last 12 months, Adams wants a raise.

The Chicago Bears drafted Eddie Jackson in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In January, the team made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL, inking the Alabama product to a four-year extension that pays out $14.6 million annually. Jackson is an elite safety. He’s not as good as Adams, who will make just over $7.1 million this year.

With no new deal forthcoming, Adams is looking for a new organization to represent. ESPN’s Adam Schefter released a selection of the safety’s preferred destinations. Seattle made the list.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1273733195125710848

Besides the Seahawks, Adams’ list features the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. So, can the Seahawks pass on an opportunity to snag one of the three best safeties in the NFL while potentially risking him landing with their division rivals? Absolutely not.

Seattle Seahawks should make their run at Jamal Adams.

According to Over The Cap, the Seahawks have just under $14 million in cap space available. Seattle also possesses one pick in each of the first three rounds in the 2021 NFL Draft. With some players heading to New York, the Seahawks have enough assets to acquire Adams, even at a hefty price.

If the Seahawks acquired Adams, they’d have him for at least two more years. His fifth-year option comes into play for the 2021 season, and Seattle would either have to re-sign or franchise tag the All-Pro after that. It might seem risky but consider that the Seahawks made a splash move for Jadeveon Clowney last season and only got one year out of him. Adams is worth far more.

Bradley McDougald currently starts at strong safety for Seattle, but the Seahawks would gladly part ways with the veteran if it meant adding Adams. He’d be the best safety in team history since Earl Thomas, and Adams could even surpass the former X-factor if Seattle somehow found a way to sign him long-term, which seems unlikely.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas recently praised Adams, saying, per the New York Daily News:

"Jamal is an amazing player. We saw what he did all year, but really when we deployed him, he was such a factor as a pass rusher around the box. He did so many good things. His leadership … he was voted team MVP by his peers. He’s a special guy."

New York won’t part with Adams for pennies the way Houston did with Clowney. He’s going to cost several draft picks and possibly multiple players. It’s a lot for Seattle to give up, but the Seahawks need another difference-maker who can get them over the playoff hump. Besides, Adams in San Francisco would be a nightmare for Seattle.

Even if the Seahawks only do their due diligence on the Adams situation, this is not an opportunity the team can ignore. Seattle has one of the top three quarterbacks in football and arguably the best middle linebacker, but the rest of the roster still needs work. Acquiring Adams puts the Seahawks in position to win the NFC West and compete for a Super Bowl title, even if it’s only for two years.