Jamal Adams was once considered a prized pickup for the Seattle Seahawks. When they pulled off the July 25, 2020 trade with the New York Jets, Seattle was adding a three-time Pro Bowl selection labeled among the top defenders of his position by fans.
Adams’ Seahawks run, however, came to an end on Tuesday as the team released him and Quandre Diggs. This move, per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, saves $27.5 million in cash for Seattle. At the same time, Adams’ release puts an end to a disastrous run with Seattle.
What Did the Seahawks Trade for Jamal Adams?
Here’s a glance at what else was included in the Adams deal:
The Jets received:
- Safety Bradley McDougald
- 2021 first-round pick
- 2021 third-round pick
- 2022 first-round pick (became Garrett Wilson)
It should be noted that the Jets used the third-round selection to eventually move up and draft Alijah Vera-Tucker at No. 14 during the 2021 NFL Draft class.
The Seahawks received:
- Safety Jamal Adams
- 2022 fourth-round pick (became Coby Bryant)
Why Did the New York Jets Trade Adams?
When the trade occurred, the Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas mentioned he saw an opportunity for his team to add more future pieces via the NFL Draft. That included adding multiple first-round selections in future draft classes for 2021 and 2022.
The decision to deal away Adams came with sending off a three-time Pro Bowl selection who became revered across the league for his blitzing — which helped lead to 12 career sacks from his safety spot.
However, tensions were mounting between Adams and the Jets which assisted in triggering the trade.
Adams became vocal during the 2019 season about hearing his name attached to trade chatter. He first posted how “false” the trade reports were on Oct. 29, 2019. The following day in front of reporters, he claimed he was “hurt” by the reports and even compared his name to Aaron Donald and Tom Brady regarding his situation.
But then new tensions between Adams and the Jets rose on April 17, 2020, when it was reported the safety was skipping voluntary workouts. Then on June 13, 2020, Adams ripped the Jets on Instagram for watching Myles Garrett earn an extension with the Cleveland Browns while he was sitting and waiting for his deal.
“A lot of talk, no action,” was in his comment directed towards a Bleacher Report post highlighting the Garrett move. Adams asked to be traded five days later.
How Did Adams Play in Seattle?
Following his wish to have a change of scenery being granted, Adams’ Seahawks career was marred with injuries and inconsistency.
Adams never started a full regular season with Seattle. He dealt with a torn left quad tendon in 2022 that occurred in the season opener. He never returned to action that season.
In three of his four seasons with the team, he didn’t record an interception. He also didn’t produce more than five pass breakups.
His lone highlight came in the 2020 campaign when he wrapped up an astonishing 9.5 sacks as a blitzing safety. That was also Adams’ last Pro Bowl season.
Adams was limited to nine games in 2023 due to the lingering effects of his ’22 ailment. But also in ’23, Adams grabbed headlines for berating an NFL concussion specialist after taking a knee to the helmet against the New York Giants in October. Adams was fined $50,000 for his sideline encounter and eventually apologized for his actions.
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The Seahawks originally had Adams signed until 2026. But now, Adams is free to sign elsewhere once the league 2024 calendar year begins.
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