The Jamal Adams trade is actually a great move for the Jets

The New York Jets turned a disgruntled player into a premium draft package.

Back in 2017, the New York Jets used their sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft on LSU safety Jamal Adams. He was the star of New York’s defense for his first three years in the league. But, after stalled contract negotiations led to a public airing of grievances for Adams, it was only a matter of time before general manager Joe Douglas opted to part ways with the disgruntled star.

That day arrived on Saturday, as the Jets traded Adams and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for safety Bradley McDougald, a 2021 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-rounder.

Yes, the Jets absolutely won this trade.

Jamal ultimately had to go

If you talked to your local Jets fan, you’d sense that they were just fed up with this whole ordeal. Things really reached a boiling point this week after Adams went scorched Earth on Douglas and head coach Adam Gase during a New York Daily News interview. The Jets had to choose between Adams and Gase, and given ownership’s trust in the coach, Adams was the most likely to be shown the door. Sure enough, that happened.

But the Jets got a boatload for a safety due for a new contract.

Let’s start off with the only player heading to New York in the trade. Bradley McDougald was a starter in Seattle’s secondary last season, and he was relatively solid. Through 15 games, McDougald recorded 70 tackles, six passes defensed and two interceptions. McDougald’s coverage ability is arguably his strength, as he surrendered 31 receptions for 356 yards and no touchdowns on 57 targets, per Pro Football Reference.

Adding McDougald to start in the secondary is a wise contingency plan for the Jets. Considering his contract is up following this season, that allows the Jets to ease their third-round pick, California safety Ashtyn Davis, into the rotation and not place too much on the rookie.

Jets’ future is bright

But the biggest pieces of this trade are the two first-round picks.

Given that the Seahawks are going to no doubt be playoff contenders for the foreseeable future, those selections will fall in the middle to latter portions of the first Even so, that gives the Jets two first round picks in the next two years. Douglas can ultimately select Adams replacement if he so choose or get a much-needed edge rusher  in 2021 (i.e. Miami’s Gregory Rousseau, Wake Forests’ Carlos Basham Jr.).

But more importantly, the Jets can provide weapons for quarterback Sam Darnold. The Jets have a need for a wide receiver, and they’ll have their pick of the litter in 2021 (i.e. LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle). And it wouldn’t hurt the Jets to select another offensive tackle to pair with Mekhi Becton with the main goal of keeping Darnold healthy and upright.

This is no knock on Jamal Adams. He’s a Pro Bowl safety for a reason. But given what’s happened over the past few months and the organization’s faith in Gase (despite his shoddy track record), he had to go. The Jets absolutely robbed the Seahawks, who were desperate to emerge from the shadows casted over the NFC West by the San Francisco 49ers.

No need to panic, Jets fans. Your future is bright, and it could be even brighter if they part ways with Gase. But that’s a story for another day.