Long thought to be on the cap casualty radar, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs will indeed be released. Seattle is cutting both veteran safeties, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. In each case, the move will come as a standard (rather than post-June 1) release, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. 
The former in particular has often been floated as a release candidate, given the nature of his contract and the injury issues which have plagued his Seattle tenure. Adams arrived amidst massive expectations following his trade from the Jets and the four-year, $70MM extension which accompanied it. The former No. 6 pick played just 34 games in four seasons with Seattle, however.
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That total includes one contest in 2022, and nine this past season. Adams ended the campaign on injured reserve with serious questions about his future in the Emerald City. They have now been answered; today’s move will create just over $6MM in cap savings while incurring a dead money charge of $20.83MM. Rather than spreading the latter figure out over two season, the team will absorb it all at once.
Diggs was entering the final year of his contract, a $40MM extension which appeared to keep him in place with the Seahawks for the long haul. None of his base salary was guaranteed, and as such the team will free up an additional $11MM in cap space. Still, the dead money figure in Diggs’ case ($10.27MM) illustrates the consequences of the investments made in both players during Pete Carroll‘s tenure at the helm of the franchise.
General manager John Schneider remains from that period, but he now has full control over roster decisions in the bid to transition under new head coach Mike Macdonald. Defensive improvement will be a key expectation for the latter given his background as well as the shortcomings Seattle has seen on that side of the ball in recent years. After being scheduled to account for over $20MM each on the cap next season, neither Adams nor Diggs will play a role in that effort.
Adams has an advantage in terms of age (28) over Diggs (31) with respect to potential market value on a deal with a new team. The former contemplated retirement following the 2022 campaign, though, and his injury history will be a major factor taken into consideration by prospective employers. A Jets reunion is not under consideration, SNY’s Connor Hughes tweets. Diggs has fared far better on the health front, earning a Pro Bowl every season from 2020-22. He recorded at least four interceptions each year over that span, but that figure fell to one in 2023.
Regardless of where Adams and Diggs wind up, Seattle will look much different on the backend in 2024. Julian Love is under contract for one more year, but at least one more starting-caliber option will be brought in this offseason.
Good riddance Jamal!
Worst in the Nation! Thank goodness they finally released the peacock. He was atrocious in coverage when healthy and had a horrible pass rush win rate when used as an extra rush LB.
I think they regretted the trade almost immediately.
So both Adams and Maye are available, though somewhat damaged, but I don’t think the Jets will go back in their direction. Safety is their main weakness on D, though.
The Jets could definitely use another safety, but I don’t think that’s a place they pay for a name, especially one who has a hard time taking the field.
I could see the Packers making a pass at Adams if he comes cheap as a rotational piece.
The best trade JD has ever made. It was a masterpiece for the Jets
Easy landing spot for Stone from the Ravens. I expect that to be one of Seattle’s first signings in free agency.
Sadly; players who are not available are not elite, regardless of talent. Adams clearly is talented. He will undoubtedly get offers to prove his value in a short one to three year contract , laden with goals & not guaranteed beyond this season. Diggs will have to decide if he wants to continue playing, and is a likely candidate to resign (for much less money) with Seattle, is my guess.
Yeah, while Adams was undoubtedly a massive disappointment, he did have a few moments (pretty much all in the box) in Seattle. I am infinitely curious though as to why Carroll thought his playstyle would translate to Seattle’s scheme. After being a stud in coverage and in the box in New York, and a team leader, Adams did not show any of those traits with the Seahawks-at least, for a good portion of the time.
Why? Well, Carroll had an elite secondary with the Legion of Boom, right? All-Pros or Pro Bowlers at every position there. However, the most important of them in actuality was Kam Chancellor. The reason was that Chancellor could cover an immense amount of ground for any player, let alone a strong safety. Imagine what a defense could do if the SS could cover half the field…especially when the FS can cover the entire deep middle.
Those Seahawks really only ran a handful of plays on defense, because the personnel were very good at their jobs, and because the safeties could each cover what normally would be two guys’ zones. Adams, as good as he was in New York, was never going to be Kam Chancellor. Carroll should have realized that, and I suppose that he eventually did, but the Seahawks’ defense was not like the Jets’ defense that earned Adams his fame originally. Perhaps Adams could have served as an above average to average safety if not for the injuries. We saw some of that-merely average to acceptable play-in some spurts in Seattle, but the massive cost of that deal and the missed games are really enough on their own to illustrate that this wasn’t a trade that Carroll should have made.
Diggs could find at least a temporary landing spot in Buffalo if he wishes to play with one of his brothers.
Quandre is not related to Stefon and Trevon, who are brothers.
Just make things up.for effect
Diggs brother is Quentin Jammer who used to play for the San Diego Chargers
Quentin Jammer was a pretty good defensive back as well, for his part.
Yeah he’s not related to Stef, but agree with the notion he should take a call from WNY
Jamal Adams was easily the worst roster decision ever made by Pete Carroll. One could easily point to that decision as one of the main reasons he is no longer coaching the Seahawks.
Would you consider him a worse mistake than Germain Ifeasi? Adams cost more, true, but Ifeadi did not offer even the most basic production that Adams did. I’m not arguing, just curious.
Hopefully the Lions bring Diggs back. Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia are horrible. Diggs fits the culture of the Lions perfectly.
Did he get hurt finding out the news?
Jags and jets. Possibly raiders.
Cross the Jets off that list. They weren’t trying to pay him what he wanted the first time, I doubt much has changed considering his injury history since the trade
I’ll miss Diggs, but Adam’s was just an incredible disaster. Glad that chapter is over.