2 key offseason moves the Seahawks still need to make

Pay Jamal Adams

The Seahawks made their own bed when they executed the trade with the New York Jets to acquire Adams in exchange for two first-round picks. Making such a trade for a strong safety with limited coverage upside was a move that raised eyebrows but it would look even more bizarre if Seattle then elected to let him hit the open market next year.

In other words, the Seahawks have no choice but to pay Adams the kind of money he never received from New York, and Carroll said in June he is confident the two parties will reach an agreement.

Adams helped his leverage by surprisingly leading the Seahawks in sacks in 2020, racking up 9.5 in his first year in Seattle.

Going forward, the Seahawks would surely be hopeful of Adams justifying both the trade and the contract they look poised to sign him to — Spotrac deems his market value to be $12.4 million a year — by making more plays in coverage than in the backfield while putting the onus on an underwhelming defensive line to create more pressure.

Regardless of whether he makes more traditional safety plays next season. Adams is unlikely to ever represent value for money in terms of the capital given up. Still, he has already proven an impactful acquisition and the Seahawks may not care too much about the cost if he can help their defense take a leap in 2021.