Jamal Adams trade was totally worth it for the Seahawks

Since joining the Seattle Seahawks, the Jamal Adams trade has worked in the 12th Man’s favor. 

Fans of the New York Jets must have laughed when they heard the Jamal Adams news this offseason.

“Two first-round picks for him?! For a safety??”

“We just fleeced Seattle!”

Since the trade, the Jets have done nothing but lost. They sit at 2-13 as the season comes to a close, now out of the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes, and have no idea what to do now pick at No. 2.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks still has a sliver of a chance to control the NFC playoff picture after winning the NFC West title on Sunday. The reason? Defensive play. More specifically, Adams.

Since his arrival to the 12th Man, Adams has been the X-factor of the franchise. Against the Los Angeles Rams, he alone made three critical goal-line stops to prevent them from nearly tying the game.

For that, the Seahawks have now won the division for the first time in four seasons. That’s in large part to the defensive turnaround. And without Adams, who’s to say there is one overall?

Jamal Adams’ skill-set essential to Seahawks’ resurgence

When drafted out of LSU sixth overall, scouts believed that Adams was a heat-seeking missile that found the ball. Many also regarded his speed as a necessity to win in coverage.

This season, the speed has worked as a pass rusher. After his sack against Dwayne Haskins in Week 15, Adams became the first defensive back in league history to finish with 9.5 sacks in under 12 games.

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It likely will earn him another All-Pro honor, while it already added another Pro Bowl appearance come January.

Since Adams return after Week 10, the Seahawks defense has been top-notch. The team has since led the NFL in average points per game (13.7 ), sacks (21) and are second in fewest yards per play (4.43).

The addition of Carlos Dunlap has added to the pass rush. Adams has added to everything else.

“This is what we had hoped for,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll told reporters. “This is the guy we had thought we may be able to get.

“It’s why we thought it was worth it.”

Looking back at the history of Seattle first-round picks, it’s not pretty. Earl Thomas has been the only first-round talent that’s hit in the John Schneider era. The verdict is still out on Jordyn Brooks.

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It’s the mid-round selections where Pete Carroll and Schneider shine. Names like K.J. Wright, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, DK Metcalf and Russell Wilson ring a bell?

The Legion of Boom is far from back, but the Seahawks added a hit-stick defender to transform the lackluster unit. Now, they look like a Super Bowl contending team for the next two years.

That alone might be worth a first-round bust or two.