Former New York Jets safety Jamal Adams wanted a deal a year ago, yet contract talks with the Seattle Seahawks now haven’t been great either.
Could trouble be brewing in Jamal Adams‘ Pacific Northwest paradise?
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, contract talks between the Seattle Seahawks and the former New York Jets defender haven’t been moving at an optimal pace.
The one-year anniversary of the trade that sent Adams to the opposite coast lands on July 25. New York’s primary yield from the deal was two first-round picks, the first of which was sent to Minnesota in exchange for the choice that landed lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker.
According to Fowler, Seattle is prepared to deal with Adams and his tactics, even though the safety has a considerable amount of leverage knowing what the team gave up for him.
“The Seahawks are committed to getting this done, but I’m told it has been a bit slow-going. This is a situation that could bleed through training camp, even possibly close to Week 1,” Fowler said on a Sunday morning edition of SportsCenter. “(Adams)Â knows the team gave up two first-round picks to get him, and he’s trying to reset the safety market in a big way. I’m not saying he’s holding out, but this is a player who got his way out of New York over his contract. The Seahawks at least know they’re dealing with a hard bargainer, someone who’s willing to bet on himself.”
Adams has long sought to be the highest-paid safety in the NFL, an endeavor that partially led to his New York departure. Denver’s Justin Simmons is currently the highest average-paid safety in the league at just over $15.2 million.
Fowler’s Sunday report also says that the Seahawks have not closed the door on a Richard Sherman reunion.
The former Robert Saleh pupil has spent the last three seasons in San Francisco after seven years in Seattle. But Fowler says that the team must figure out the Adams situation before allocating money toward signing an old friend.
Though Adams earned second-team All-Pro honors last year, his first season in Seattle drew mixed reviews, as Pro Football Focus graded Adams at 64.2 last season.
Sam Monson of the same site recently had him in the final spot of his top-10 safety rankings—three spots behind current Jets representative Marcus Maye.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
Buyers remorse, 20 is just crazy. 14 could be fair. Interesting to see how this drama unfolds