Jamal Adams, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks.
The Seattle Seahawks saw their opportunity to add an All-Pro talent and took it. They acquired safety Jamal Adams from the New York Jets. Adams, who was the heart and soul of the team, had become increasingly disgruntled with New York’s front office and coaching staff in recent months. He wanted out and was very vocal about it.
Although Jets GM Joe Douglas denies it, Adams put the Jets’ backs against the wall. Fortunately, the Seattle Seahawks were around to “help out.”
As the 12s all know by now, head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schnieder are about a win-now mindset. Since hooking up together in Seattle, they have built a winning team. Since the dynamic duo arrived in Seattle, the Seahawks have dominated to the tune of an NFL fourth-best 100-59-1 regular-season record, eight playoff appearances, two NFC Championships, and a Super Bowl Title. In short, they know what they’re doing.
Part of their formula was signing key free agents such as Brandon Browner, Cliff Avril, and Michael Bennett. Another part of their success has to do with making some impressive trades along the way. The Seahawks aren’t afraid to pull the trigger on a big deal. Who could forget the Marshawn Lynch trade at the 2010 draft? Another big one was the deal for Percy Harvin, who helped the Seahawks win a Super Bowl with his 12-second touchdown return to open the 2nd half. The list goes on up to and including the trade for Jadeveon Clowney.
Schneider paid a high price to get the two-time Pro Bowl selection. Adams cost the Seahawks their next two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and safety Bradley McDougald. He’ll be well worth the price, and here are five reasons why.
Speed and agility have been traits that Seattle’s safety group has been missing from the Legion of Boom days. Adams has the raw speed to cover from any position on the field. He can handle receivers, it the slot, outside the hash marks, or help in deep coverage.
Over his three year career, Adams has only two interceptions (one was a pick-six). What he brings to the table is a disruption to the timing of the routes. Additionally, Adams is adept at breaking up passes. In the same period, the former LSU star has 25 Passes defended. Much of that success has to do with his ability to play sideline-to-sideline.
In the current NFC West Division, Adams will be on the field against some of the big-name receivers and tight ends in the game. It won’t bother him in the slightest; as a matter of fact, he’ll relish the challenges.
Adams is a player that not only has speed but also has the power to hurt people when he makes tackles. That’s a skill the safety uses quite often when he comes up to the line. From there, Adams is a punishing hitter when he’s either stopping the run or blitzing a quarterback. Jamal is Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor in one body. His type of talent doesn’t come often. When he tackles someone, they will know it; an average of 91 ball carriers per season can attest to that.
Adams is a student of the game. He takes the time to study an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses to make plays. After going through some of the game tapes and watching Jamal playing in the strong safety position, certain things pop out.
Taking a page from NBC Sunday Night Football analyst Chris Collinsworth’s playbook, Here is a guy who is always watching how the offense lines up against his defense. In one instance, I watched him come on a safety blitz and sack the quarterback. He is continuously studying game tape and is always one to ask questions. Even on the sideline, Adams has the tablet in his hands.
Then there is his leadership in the locker room. Adams earns the respect of his peers by making big plays, especially at critical times. The rest of the defense also gets better when he steps into the field. Adams’ ability to cover all over the field forces the opposing quarterback to hold onto the ball longer and allows the pass rush more time to collapse the pocket. Something the Seattle Seahawks will need with their low ranked defensive line.
Top players know who the best are, “game recognizes game,” as the saying goes. Jamal Adams not only wants to be the best, but he also wants to play with the best. That’s why he is a tireless recruiter to bring the top available free agents to his side. He’s even made an overture to Jadaveon Clowney.
What the team gave up to make the Adams trade happen was well worth the price. Looking at the last five years of Seattle first-round draft picks, the Seahawks haven’t fared very well. They’ve selected duds or injury-prone players. Additionally, if things with Adams work out the way 12s hope they will, New York will be getting picks in the high 20s or maybe low 30s.