New York Jets: Joe Douglas can put money where his mouth is in 2020

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas can put his money where his mouth is in 2020. Here are the full details and why this offseason is huge.

After a flurry of talk ahead of the NFL trade deadline, the New York Jets ultimately stood pat. One of the big names that were surprisingly rumored to be on the move was All-Pro safety, Jamal Adams.

On Tuesday evening, Jets general manager Joe Douglas clarified that situation to the media:

“Jamal Adams is absolutely a part of the Jets long term future. I just want to reiterate we weren’t shopping Jamal Adams. He wears the ‘C’ patch for a reason. Jamal is an absolute warrior and is the heartbeat of the defense.”

If Adams is truly a part of the team’s long term future, Joe Douglas can put his money where his mouth is this offseason.

Joe Douglas says that Jamal Adams still has a big part to play in the future of the Jets:

"He's an absolute warrior, he's the heartbeat of this team" pic.twitter.com/jTwBBBhcbL

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 29, 2019

In the new league year, Jamal Adams for the first time in his career will be eligible for a long-term contract extension.

If Jamal truly is a part of the team’s long term future, Douglas can make it official this offseason beyond his words with a blank check rewarding Adams for his success with the team and his bright future.

Currently, Adams is ranked 19th among safeties in average salary per year. He’s near the end of his rookie contract he signed back in 2017. There are two years left on his deal, his fifth year is a team option.

After the deadline, Jamal Adams went to social media to reveal that any reports of him asking to be traded from the Jets “are completely false.”

He would then go on to say that he met with coach Adam Gase and GM Joe Douglas last week to reiterate that he wants to be here in New York.

Although he also shared that his agent told him that Douglas “went behind his back and shopped me around to teams, even after I asked him to keep me here! Crazy business.”

There are two important things to note.

Jamal Adams is still a member of the New York Jets. Now the team must go into damage control mode and convince their star player that they want him here long term and they can do that by giving him a fat extension this offseason.

The second point is Joe Douglas flat out denied shopping any of the players mentioned at the deadline and said he took calls and that was it.

The exorbitant price that the Jets asked for in any potential Jamal Adams deal seems to indicate that. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said that the Dallas Cowboys and the Jets engaged in trade talks and the green and white would only part with Adams for a future first-rounder and two 2nd rounders.

Jamal Adams isn’t a trade chip, he’s a foundational piece that can lead the Jets into a new era of football. It’s time for Joe Douglas to walk the walk, after talking the talk to the media. If he does that, all should be well on 1 Jets Drive. If he doesn’t, all hell could break loose.