Here is what the New York Jets ultimately got out of the Jamal Adams and Sam Darnold trades
The two biggest trades made to date by New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas finally came to a close last Thursday in the 2022 NFL draft.
For various reasons, Douglas sent away safety Jamal Adams and quarterback Sam Darnold to the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers, respectively. Darnold was dealt in April 2021 and Adams was dealt in July 2020.
All of the picks from those two trades have been used.
In exchange for Darnold, Adams, and a fourth-round pick, the Jets received the following haul:
- 23rd pick in the 2021 NFL draft (via Seattle)
- 88th pick in the 2021 NFL draft (via Seattle)
- 226th pick in the 2021 NFL draft (via Carolina)
- 10th pick in the 2022 NFL draft (via Seattle)
- 38th pick in the 2022 NFL draft (via Carolina)
- 111th pick in the 2022 NFL draft (via Carolina)
- Safety Bradley McDougald (via Seattle)
Ultimately, here are the players the Jets ended up getting out of those six selections after various ensuing trades:
- IOL Alijah Vera-Tucker
- WR Garrett Wilson
- RB Breece Hall
- OT Max Mitchell
- CB Brandin Echols
- S Jason Pinnock
- DT Jonathan Marshall
Over one year has passed since these fateful trades and it looks like the Jets are coming out on the better side of both deals.
Adams has regressed massively in Seattle and has been more of a liability than a boost to the Seahawks’ struggling defense. However, he made sure to cash in by signing a record-breaking four-year, $70.5 million contract.
The Adams trade hastened the fall of the Seahawks dynasty. After trading for Adams, the Seahawks slowly declined to their lowest point in over a decade, largely due to Adams’ struggles and the loss of the draft picks that it took to acquire him. All of this eventually led to the trade of quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
Darnold, on the other hand, has reached new lows as a starting quarterback.
In his first season with the Panthers, Darnold got off to a good start but everything quickly fell apart as he only won one game after Week 3. Darnold ended up missing five games with injury and set a new career-low in passer rating (71.9). The Panthers already exercised his fifth-year option prior to the 2021 season and are on the hook for paying him $18 million in 2022.
Given the rapid fall of Darnold and Adams, these trades have turned into home runs for the Jets. Douglas was able to turn the former franchise centerpieces into three blue-chip players in Vera-Tucker, Wilson, and Hall. As icing on the cake, Echols and Pinnock flashed the ability to contribute in their rookie years, while Marshall and Mitchell could also become useful depth pieces.
In the end, it’s fair to say that Darnold and Adams did bring hope and success to the Jets franchise after all. It just wasn’t due to their play as members of the New York Jets.
Given his history in trades, it’s only a matter of time until teams stop answering when Douglas comes calling.
