NY Jets were smart to trade Jamal Adams in hindsight

Back in July, Jamal Adams requested a trade from the NY Jets. Adams was visibly frustrated with how contract talks were going with the organization and wanted to get paid immediately — but Joe Douglas had other plans.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported at the time that Adams wanted to be one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league, rumored to desire over $20 million a year.

Adams’ wish came true. Well, at least one of his wishes.

He was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in a package that sent the Jets two first-rounders and a third-rounder, although he didn’t immediately receive his new contract.

Seattle believed the LSU product could make them Super Bowl contenders in a competitive NFC. Instead, Seattle was eliminated in the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Rams. Now, the Jets have the 23rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, courtesy of their trade partners.

Seattle will have to pay top dollar to extend the former No. 6 overall pick because of the draft capital they gave up to acquire him.

Former NY Jets’ safety Jamal Adams struggled in 2020

Although Adams broke the sack record for defensive backs, the 25-year-old safety arguably had his worst professional season in 2020. He struggled mightily in coverage and was often attacked by opposing quarterbacks.

The 25-year-old earned a lackluster 62.7 Pro Football Focus grade which ranked 52nd out of all safeties in the NFL. His 52.5 coverage grade was even worse ranking 78th out of just 93 qualifiers at his position.

Adams missed four games during the season due to a groin injury. He will also have offseason surgery on his left shoulder and two broken fingers on his left hand.

The Jets have many holes throughout this roster and Douglas noticed that. Adams was easily the best player on the team and deserved a new contract. The Jets were also rebuilding and it wouldn’t have been smart to pay a safety 20 million a year.

Both things can be true.

Douglas now has more assets and cap space to improve this depleted roster. This wasn’t an easy decision for Douglas to make, but it was the right one.

The Jets can add an immediate starter at a premium position with the 23rd pick while having him on a rookie deal. Gang Green also owns Seattle’s first-round pick in 2022 and can add another blue-chip player then.

Douglas now has the flexibility to use these assets and even explore a trade for disgruntled quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Jets can offer Houston a lucrative package for the former Clemson quarterback.

Adams recently talked about his past with the Jets once again. On Jordan Schultz’s podcast, Adams said that his fate in New York was sealed when Douglas made a comment about his antics on social media negatively affecting his trade value.

The Pro Bowl safety said he officially requested a trade because he felt disrespected by Douglas. Adams also said he was on social media forcing his way out because that was the only option, just to come back and say he requested a trade after Douglas’ comments.

That timeline doesn’t make much sense because Adams’ social media antics started before Douglas even said anything.

The former Jets safety can’t seem to get New York off his mind, even after forcing his way to Seattle.

Losing an All-Pro safety wasn’t fun for the Jets. But they will be just fine.

Especially if they are able to land a superstar quarterback in Watson using the very assets they obtained as a result of Jamal Adams’ departure.