The Seahawks appear ready to make Jamal Adams the NFL’s highest-paid safety, but they may not be planning to create a new tier for safety contracts.
Adams and the Seahawks have been expected to come to terms on a record-setting safety extension, meaning a deal worth north of Justin Simmons‘ $15.25MM-per-year contract. But Seattle does not want to move Adams beyond Bobby Wagner‘s $18MM-AAV deal, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (video link). This would appear to create a range for Adams’ next contract.
[RELATED: Seahawks’ Jamal Adams Deal Imminent?]
The All-Pro defender frequently plays alongside Wagner in the box, having become a historically productive pass rusher at the safety position, but a deal worth more than Wagner’s would completely reset the safety market and give the Seahawks three players earning at least $18MM annually. Adams also is coming off a so-so coverage season, per Pro Football Focus. The Seahawks want their 25-year-old chess piece to be their third-highest-paid player, behind Russell Wilson and Wagner, but the former Jets standout has hoped to avoid being constrained by the other top contracts at the safety position.
Seattle traded two first-rounders and change for Adams, giving him a Khalil Mack– or Laremy Tunsil-type negotiating position. While Mack’s 2018 Bears extension raised the bar for pass rushers by $1MM annually, from Aaron Donald‘s then-record place, Tunsil’s 2020 Texans accord created a new tier for left tackle pacts. The Seahawks would clearly prefer the Mack route here, though the Rams may have laid the groundwork for a compromise. After dealing two first-rounders for Jalen Ramsey, the Rams made him the NFL’s highest-paid corner — by $2.75MM per year — last September. The Seahawks may be prepared to let Adams’ next contract create similar AAV distance from the current top earners at his position.
Beyond an extension that locks up Adams long-term, the Seahawks have the option of the franchise tag in 2022. Adams, who is set to make $9.86MM on the fifth-year option this season, has sought a long-term deal since becoming extension-eligible in 2020. Contract talks with the Jets led him out of New York, and that trade has left Seattle without a first-round pick until 2023.
Given the leverage this trade provided Adams, it will be interesting to see how this process concludes. The Mack, Tunsil and Ramsey extensions point to Adams becoming the NFL’s highest-paid safety, and he could push that number near $20MM per year.
Seattle has a HoF QB and spend their cash and picks on D? No wonder Wilson wants out, same for Rodgers. Terrible mis ‘management’.
Too bad Wilson doesn’t want out and it was totally fake news
Did he not give a list of teams he’d accept a trade to?
Bc the article a week ago said he didn’t deny sending a list, but did not demand a trade.
I should say to my girlfriend “Hey honey here’s a list of your friends I would bang. I’m not asking to bang them though.”
Interesting analogy. Do not recommend.
Why didn’t he request a trade between 2012-2016? If he hates defense as much as you say he does he surely would have wanted out during those years.
Keep pushing the stupidity that the bait click media pushed to get viewers or readers.
They have improved the OL have a very dynamic WR duo and a third who is pretty good and a very good RB if he can stay healthy. There is always room for improvement but locking up an asset they gave so much for seems prudent.
Dude….It’s amazing how much BS you managed to fit in such a short post.
Wrong on so many points.
Seattle may have a HOF QB but only the Titans gave up 3rd down conversions at a higher rate last season. Smart GMs address team weaknesses, so defensive upgrades make plenty of sense for the Seahawks.
Start by asking the question “What are you going to pay Adams 16+ million a year to do?” If the answer is “rush the passer”, then the next question should be “what makes Adams a great pass rusher?”. If the answer to that is “he is faster and more athletic than your typical 250+lb pass rusher.” It’s probably worth considering that there are lots of box safeties with coverage liabilities who could be utilized as pass rushers for way less money. My point being, does Adams actually have a unique skill set or does he have more household name recognition plus leverage from the trade? Seattle needs to make an honest assessment.
You’re totally right here but I think at this point it’s too late.
Agreed. I also don’t buy into the general assessment they gave up so much for him they have to sign him. If he is out of the price range you want to pay then look to free agency next year.
Did you watch Adams play last year? The guy is an absolute game changer The Hawks are paying him to be the best defensive player on the field (including Bobby Wagner). He’s as elite as they come.
If you read the comment by DonOsborne, you might understand his point…..there are probably other Seahawk defensive players who might disagree with your comment about Adams being the “best defensive player on the field” with Bobby Wagner probably being the first in line there!
He might though be the best defensive player on the field as far as playing the press when he wants something as he did in NY
I agree that Adams was a game changer last year. But was it because of his unique ability, or was it because Seattle deployed him in a way that maximized his strengths? Most teams don’t utilize their safeties the way Seattle used Adams.
Normally Adams is at least a decent coverage safety. Last year he was not, but whether that will be a long term predicament remains to be seen. It could be that he is still learning a new scheme or was injured. Both of those two are true, but whether his offseason recovery and his offseason practices eliminated either of those remains to be seen. Or it could be true that he just is not a good fit for Seattle’s defense, which would be concerning. Lastly, it may just be that he naturally just isn’t a good cover safety. In New York, that last possibility was not a problem.
If either of the first two reasons were the cause of Adams’ coverage grades last year, then the contract shouldn’t be a problem. If either of the latter two were the reason, then the contract should not be offered; or, at the very least, a much lesser contract should be offered, regardless of the sunk cost of what the team gave up to acquire Adams.
I would argue that if injury was the cause, I would be hesitant to hand out that contract because injuries have been a part of his profile most of his career.
Fair, but it would depend on what type of injury he has had issue with. I recall reading about it but I cannot recall what specifically it was. Adams has had a couple of missed games certainly, but I don’t know if I would necessarily consider him injury prone. in any case, it’s a question to consider.
I believe it was a shoulder injury last year. I just think his playing style will leave him constantly banged up. I would compare him to Bob Sanders. Yes he can impact a game. Yes he is fun to watch. No, I would not give him a lucrative long term contract.