Who Will Jamal Adams Play for in 2020?

We’re in a new era of unprecedented player star power, when guys like Jamal Adams can inform a team that he will no longer be offering his football services to them and all they can do is kick rocks and mope about it.

Jamal Adams has let the New York Jets know that he would like to be traded in lieu of ever suiting up for the team again in his natural life.

Adams is entering his fourth year in the league and, as a first round pick, the Jets have his rights for this and another season on his rookie deal after selecting his fifth-year option. Adams, as most superstar players do, refuses to accept that and wanted an extension this year. New York has drug its feet to the point where Adams, who was rumored to be on the block last season, has just decided to take his talents elsewhere.

According to Pro Football Focus, Adams is the second highest graded safety in the league at 91.0 over the last two seasons and recorded an 87.9 last year. In 2019, in 14 games, he recorded 75 tackles, 10 for a loss, 13 QB hits, 6.5 sacks (that’s unreal for a safety), one fumble recovery, one interception and two defensive touchdowns.

So why do stars have such trade power? Because other teams want them and are willing to pay the price. For a guy like Adams, even at an undervalued position, that probably means two first round picks.

So which team is going to cut the deal and add Jamal Adams to its secondary?

First off, let’s look at the odds of Adams being on the Jets’ roster by Week 1. Right now Yes is at +325 and No is sitting at -550 so the books and I agree that it’s just not going to happen. The Jets have every reason to want two first rounders for Adams and other franchises, especially those in contention in 2020-21, have every reason to cough up the picks for his services.

Trading two first rounders for a contender isn’t as big a deal as it seems. Each first round pick comes with an expected contract anyway and it’s unlikely if your team is picking 25-32 that you’re adding an elite game-changer. Certainly guys after No. 20 all start grading out the same and you’re just as likely to pick a future star in the second or third rounds as you are at No. 29.

And while signing Adams to the deal he wants will add tons of money to your cap, so would the contracts of those two first rounders. And, sure, say you ace those two picks and add two superstars, there’s a chance you won’t get to keep both because of their contract demands and, even if you did, the rookies taken in 2021 and 2022 aren’t going to help your team with the Super Bowl this season. Jamal Adams can.

You also have to factor in that Adams has control over the team in which he’ll land. No team will make a trade for the star safety just to have him hold out and demand another. Nope. The new contract (or promise of one) will be in place before Adams tosses his luggage on the plane.

As for who will pull the trigger, the Dallas Cowboys are Adams’ favorite landing spot and he would immediately impact their defense. Their problem is cap space, currently sitting at $11.254 million after Dak Prescott signed his franchise tender. Depending on the long term deal he and the team come up with, that number will change.

Eddie Jackson is the current highest paid safety in the league, making $14.6 million a year. Adams probably wants at least $16 million don’t be surprised to see $18 million tossed out there. There’s always some cap martial arts that can be done to make a deal like Adams requires happen, but it’s too tight in Dallas. It’s not likely.

The team I really like for Adams is the Philadelphia Eagles. They currently pay off at +500 and are sitting at $24.727 million in available cap space. They’re also a consistent contender since Doug Pederson was hired as head coach and have the Vince Lombardi Trophy to prove it. Their current safety tandem of Rodney McLeod and Jalen Mills are pedestrian at best. Going to Philly works for both Adams and the Eagles.

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