Top 100 NFL players entering the 2020 season: Nos. 20-11

12. Jamal Adams, S, Seattle Seahawks

Adams succeeded in forcing his way out of New York this offseason. The 24-year-old safety ran into several issues with the team’s front office and coaching staff before his departure. The Jets listened to trade offers for Adams last year, which didn’t go over well with the LSU product.

However, New York’s refusal to budge on giving Adams a contract extension ultimately drove the two sides apart. In late July, Seattle put together a trade package, including two first-round picks, for Adams. He and Bobby Wagner, who appears at No. 11, form one of the NFL’s best defensive dynamic duos.

Adams is a defensive coordinator’s dream. In 14 games last season, he tallied one interception, seven passes defensed, 6.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, 75 tackles, and two defensive touchdowns. The AP rewarded him with a First-Team All-Pro selection.

PFF’s Sam Monson views Adams as the perfect prototypical safety for the modern NFL,

"Last season, Adams played significant snaps at free safety, strong safety, in the slot, split out as a cornerback or even on the defensive line as a legitimate edge rusher. In terms of pass-rush, he has over 20 total pressures in each of the past two seasons and has the second-best PFF grade of any safety in the league over that time."

While Adams isn’t perfect, he and Derwin James represent the future of their position in the NFL. Of the ten safeties included on the top 100, Adams claims the top spot.

11. Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seattle Seahawks

After eight seasons, Wagner already has a Hall of Fame résumé. I’ve said that a couple of times during the last several selections, but that’s because a handful of the NFL’s elite players in their early 30s seem primed for final destinations in Canton. Wagner leads this aging pack on the top 100.

Over the past six seasons, Wagner hasn’t missed a Pro Bowl, and he’s earned four consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections from the AP. A member of the legendary Legion of Boom defense, Wagner soared to the top of the league in the year’s following Seattle’s Super Bowl XLVIII victory. With Luke Kuechly retiring, Wagner is the most accomplished active inside/middle linebacker in the NFL.

This past season, Wagner led the NFL in tackles for the second time with 159. He also registered three sacks and an interception. With Adams, Shaquill Griffin, and Wagner piloting Seattle’s defense, the Seahawks could make a deep playoff push this year.