In a slightly unsurprising turn of events, Jets Safety Jamal Adams has requested a trade. This of course comes on the back of an offseason where links between Adams and the Cowboys were growing stronger by the day and the possibility of a trade only seemed to rise.
Adams clearly wants his deserved payday, but the Jets had other ideas. Captained by cap-savvy GM Joe Douglas, it’s hardly shocking that they want to extract every last dollar from a cheap rookie contract on a player that’s already among the elite at his position.
What really added fuel to the fire was the fact that the Jets would then go on to select Cal’s Ashtyn Davis in the Draft, whose stock fell due to a December surgery and a lack of pro-day activity amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Many had pinned Davis as a first/second-round pick and the Jets were able to snag him with the 68th overall pick.
Adams took to social media to vent his frustration earlier today and now the rumor-mill is spinning faster than ever.
Adam Schefter then tweeted that the Eagles were among several teams who could be interested in a trade and this isn’t the first time those dots have been connected. But does it make any sense?
The contract
The former sixth overall pick is entering year four of his rookie contract. A contract where he’s already made the Pro Bowl in two of his first three NFL seasons. Adams graded out at 87.9 according to PFF last season, rallying to 60 tackles and being a force all over the field.
The Jets want him to play out his rookie deal, costing $7.1M this year, and an option value of $9.9M before he enters free agency in 2022.
Cap space isn’t an immediate problem for the Eagles – they have $22M as of right now. The issue being however that in 2021, they’ll be over the cap by $50M as things stand, which is certainly less than ideal. Obviously, things can change and Howie has his wizarding ways, but are they really going to be able to fork out a monumental chunk of guaranteed money just as contracts of guys like Wentz, Brooks, Cox, Hargrave, all pick up? Let’s not forget Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert both needing new deals pronto.
The fit
There’s no denying Adams would be the dream weapon for Jim Schwartz. After losing Malcolm Jenkins, the Eagles have opted to go for a ‘Safety by committee’ approach, bringing in guys like Will Parks and Jalen Mills (moving from CB) on one-year deals. There isn’t much longevity at the position outside of K’Von Wallace…and if you have the opportunity to at least explore the idea of a potentially elite tandem that could stand the test of time, it’s worth doing – even if the odds are stacked against you.
Howie likes adding cornerstones on deals where guaranteed money is hard to come by – just ask Malcolm Jenkins. Whether it’s snuck away in bonuses, hidden in dummy years, or prorated, it doesn’t sound like the ideal GM to negotiate a league-breaking deal with…
The value
There had been murmurs beforehand that the Jets wanted at least a first-round pick and a third-round pick, but after such a firm stance, it’s fair to say that price could fluctuate.
The Eagles, like trading for Yannick Ngakoue, would have to give up significant draft capital at a time where their salary cost is headed through the roof and they need as many cheap deals as possible. Giving up major assets for a cornerstone like Adams would have obvious pros and cons, with the pros being arguably one of the most damaging secondaries in the entire NFL, but do the Eagles have the assets and the gall to potentially set the team back multiple years just to acquire his services after such a stellar offseason? Not yet.
The Safety position has long been one of versatility, cheap deals, restructures, and a lack of guaranteed money – both Rodney McLeod and Malcolm Jenkins know that all too well. Jamal Adams doesn’t fit that mold. Stranger things have happened and I expect the Eagles to at least enquire, but whether or not it’s a serious one will depend on if Adams is chasing a bag, or an environment where he can win a Super Bowl and feel valued.
Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
