The Jamal Adams saga has come to an end.
After months of publically criticizing the organization that drafted him sixth overall in 2017, the safety got his wish on Saturday. The Jets are trading Adams, along with a fourth-round pick in 2022, to the Seahawks.
The deal, first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, nets the Jets fellow safety Bradley McDougald, a first-round pick in 2021, a third-round pick in 2021 and a first-round pick in 2022. McDougald, a starter the last few years, can play both safety positions, is an asset in the box and has five interceptions over the last two seasons.
Seattle, meanwhile, gets a 24-year-old All-Pro safety in Adams who can impact every facet of its defense. The Seahawks officially announced Adams’ arrival.
Then there’s Adams, who is likely getting everything he’s asked for. After demanding the Jets trade him to one of eight contenders — the Seahawks were among them — Adams can check that box off his list. Next up is a contract extension, which is likely to come sooner rather than later even though Adams still has two seasons left on his rookie deal. After seeing how things played out in New York, the Seahawks should know a timely extension is part of the package.
The Jets’ decision not to give Adams a new contract this offseason is more or less what led to his departure. GM Joe Douglas had said that he wanted to make Adams “a Jet for life,” but Adams claimed a contract offer was never made. Adams, despite having just three years in the league, wanted a new deal now. The Jets, however, didn’t have much incentive to do so. They didn’t have much reason to trade Adams either — until his public bashing of the negotiations and the organization’s top decision-makers became too loud to ignore.
Adams has been vocal about his frustrations on social media for months. Recently, he was quoted in a New York Daily News story blasting Douglas and head coach Adams Gase. Adams also criticized Woody Johnson this offseason after allegations of racist and sexist remarks were levied at the owner.
The erosion of Adams’ relationship with the Jets dates back to the 2019 trade deadline. Though he had no reported interest in dealing Adams, Douglas listened to offers for the defensive back. Douglas picking up the phone didn’t sit well with Adams, who didn’t speak to the GM or Gase for weeks before all involved remedied the situation enough to get through the remainder of the season. From there, it looked like it was still possible for Adams and the Jets to agree to a deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety.
Instead, the relationship eroded beyond repair. Now Adams is heading to Seattle, where he’s set to become a very rich man.