The Jamal Adams minicamp holdout has not produced reports of acrimony between he and the Seahawks. The Seahawks excused Adams’ absence from minicamp, and Pete Carroll described his extension talks as amicable.
An agreement may be on the immediate horizon. All signs are pointing to an extension being finalized around the start of training camp, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Adams is going into a contract year; he is set to earn $9.86MM on the fifth-year option.
Given what Seattle traded to acquire Adams — 2021 and ’22 first-round picks, a ’21 third and safety Bradley McDougald — it can be easily assumed the impending extension will make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. Justin Simmons currently holds that distinction, after signing a four-year Broncos deal worth $61MM. Adams will surely try to move the price north by a notable margin.
The Seahawks have authorized top-market extensions before, giving Russell Wilson a then-NFL-record $35MM-per-year deal in April 2019 and extending Bobby Wagner at the current off-ball linebacker high-water mark ($18MM AAV). They appear poised to include Adams in this blueprint. Wagner signed his current deal around the start of Seattle’s 2019 training camp and agreed to his 2015 extension in early August of that year. Wilson’s first extension (in 2015) occurred days before Wagner’s.
The Seahawks also might create a bit more cap space ahead of an Adams deal, with Carroll also signaling the team’s interest in keeping Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown beyond his 2021 contract year.
Adams thrives as a box safety and set a position record with 9.5 sacks last season. This unique skill set, while leaving some coverage skills to be desired, figures to factor into the 25-year-old defender’s negotiations. The former Jets top-10 pick began extension discussions way back in January 2020, when he was still a Jet, but talks paused and the Jets traded him to Seattle. The Seahawks communicated to Adams a preference he play on his rookie deal last season. Adams did so and made his third straight Pro Bowl. His second NFL team looks set to reward him.
Not even a concern on either guy. The Seahawks always get their guys signed and the ones they don’t are because they don’t want to. For example, no third contract for Earl Thomas.
Earl is flipping the bird to you right now…
Still not sure why they’re gonna pay him top safety money. He grades out as terrible in coverage and defending the run. The only thing he has going for him is the sacks which are nice, but you don’t need sacks from the safety position. You need it from linemen. Adams is a good player, but the money he’ll get is best spent elsewhere.
Grades out? The guy changes games.
Changes games? Any player can change a game. Adams according to PFF does not cover well or defend the run… 2 things required for his position. He’s not a corner taking out the other teams best receiver. He’s a box safety that blitzes a lot. That in my opinion is not worth top safety money.
NFL front offices are an interesting study. Making a mistake by overpaying for a player with a limited skillset can have one of two outcomes. You can admit the mistake and take a corrective route or compound the mistake by handing out a lucrative extension. The first choice will get you fired. The second choice will get you praised. It’s crazy. These guys all have bright futures in the federal government.