Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks agree on long-term deal
Jamal Adams has finished what he started when he demanded a trade from the New York Jets just over a year ago.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Adams and his new employers in Seattle have agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract extension with $38 million of that guaranteed.
The #Seahawks have agreed to terms on a large extension for star S Jamal Adams, a 4-year, $70M deal that makes him the league’s highest paid safety, I’m told. He gets $38M guaranteed, breaking the stalemate. A long time coming and well-deserved. 💰💰💰
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2021
Such a deal with the Seahawks makes Adams, 25, the highest-paid safety in the NFL, breaking the $61 million (and $38 million guaranteed) that Denver bestowed to Justin Simmons. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network further reported that performance-based bonuses could bring the deal up to $72 million.
Jamal Adams’ deal with the #Seahawks has a max value of $72 million over four years, meaning he could reach the $18 million per year plateau (i.e. Bobby Wagner’s average) with team and individual performance.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 17, 2021
Thus ends the Adams contract saga. The news of the deal comes one day after it was reported that the Seahawks were planning to use the franchise tag on him in each of the next two seasons.
Adams’ contract demands led to his departure from the Jets after three seasons with the team. He and the Jets failed to come to terms on a desired deal despite his public requests to become the league’s highest-paid safety. Adams officially demanded a trade in June and made several disparaging remarks toward the Jets’ management and coaching staff.
The Jets traded Adams (and a 2022 fourth-round draft pick) to the Seahawks last July in exchange for a 2021 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, and a 2022 first-round pick. Veteran safety Bradley McDougald was also included in the package.
While McDougald is no longer with the team, the Jets eventually sent the two 2021 selections to Minnesota in order to move up and draft USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker with the 14th overall selection. New York will pick in Seattle’s first-round slot come the 2022 draft in Las Vegas.
Adams went through an up-and-down season in Seattle. He earned an NFL defensive back-record 9.5 sacks (ironically, he broke the record in a win over the Jets) but missed a career-high four games and struggled in coverage. His efforts resulted in a third straight Pro Bowl team appearance and a second-team All-Pro nomination but the Seahawks were ousted in the NFC Wild Card postseason round by the Los Angeles Rams.
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During the tense negotiations, Adams held himself out of Seattle’s training camp activities in Renton and later threatened to classify himself as a linebacker if the team played him on a franchise tag.
While Rapoport says Adams’ participation is “imminent” when it comes to training camp, it’s unknown if he’ll appear in Seattle’s preseason tilt against Denver on Saturday night (10 p.m. ET, KCQP).
The Adams-free Jets will return to exhibition action on Saturday afternoon in Green Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, WLNY/NFL Network).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
