When the NY Jets shipped star safety Jamal Adams away to the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2020 season, many saw the trade as a win for both sides.
The Jets were able to get exceptional value for a player who was essentially refusing to play for them while the Seahawks were acquiring one of the best young defensive players in the NFL, albeit at a hefty price.
But only a little over a year later and one of those teams have emerged as the clear-cut winner of the deal. And it continues to pay dividends for them.
While Seattle has struggled to a 2-3 start, certainly not helped by Adams' poor play, the Jets are fresh off their first win of the season in an overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans.
To make matters worse for Seattle, quarterback Russell Wilson is expected to be sidelined up to 6-8 weeks with a finger injury. For all intents and purposes, the Seahawks' season is essentially over.
And as a result, the Jets are set to benefit.
The NY Jets continue to reap the rewards of the Jamal Adams trade
The Jets own the Seahawks' first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, just as they did in the 2021 NFL Draft. They already landed standout rookie guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in this year's draft as a direct result of the Adams trade.
Vera-Tucker was widely considered to be the best interior offensive line prospect in the class and has shown flashes so far this season.
Now, the Jets will have the opportunity to select another young stud in next year's draft. And that draft pick could be pretty high.
The Seahawks are already 2-3. Their defense is on pace to give up the most yards in NFL history, certainly aided by Adams' struggles. And now they'll be without their superstar quarterback for up to two months playing in perhaps the hardest division in football.
It's hard to have imagined a worse scenario for the Seahawks.
The Jets are continuing to reap the rewards of the Adams trade. Not only do they have Seattle's first-round pick, but Adams himself has been partially responsible for helping improve the value of that pick.
Wilson's injury only amplifies their issues.
But Seattle's loss is the Jets' gain. The more the Seahawks lose, the more the Jets win.