#Jets trading disgruntled Jamal Adams to Seahawks

The Jets agreed to trade the disgruntled safety and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Seahawks, according to a source, in exchange for a 2021 first-round pick, 2022 first-round pick, 2021 third-round pick and safety Bradley McDougald.

The deal ends a drama that has played out this offseason with the Pro Bowl safety seeking a contract extension and then asking for a trade after not receiving one. Adams has criticized the organization over the past two months, everyone from owner Woody Johnson to coach Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas.

The move comes one day after a published interview with Adams where he questioned Gase’s leadership and said Douglas lied to his agent.

The Jets had maintained they were not interested in trading Adams unless they were blown away by an offer. Apparently, Seattle did just that.

The move comes with risk as Adams was widely considered the best player on the Jets. The team drafted him No. 6 overall in 2017 out of LSU. He became a major factor on the team and earned a Pro Bowl nod in his second season. He made the Pro Bowl again last year and also was named first-team All-Pro.

Adams, 24, was the team’s MVP the last two years and a team captain. In 2019, he had 75 tackles, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles, on fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown and an interception, which he also returned for a touchdown. Adams was a force near the line of scrimmage. He was second on the team with 6 ½ sacks. He tied for the team lead with 13 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss.

About the only knock on Adams’ game is his lack of interceptions. He only has two in his career. But he affects the game in many other ways.

It would have been unthinkable just a year ago that the Jets would trade Adams, who was viewed as a key piece of their core. But things deteriorated between the player and the organization. He was miffed about getting benched last year late in a Week 2 loss to the Browns after he committed back-to-back penalties. Then, he blasted Douglas for engaging in trade discussions about him at the October deadline. He did not speak to Douglas and Gase for a short time after that.

His play never fell off and he actually posted some of his best games as a Jet in the weeks after.

Then, the offseason came. Adams made it clear he wanted a new contract despite having two years left on his rookie contract. Douglas said the Jets wanted Adams to be a “Jet for life.” The Jets never promised him a deal this year, according to a source, but Adams has publicly said they did. Adams was seeking a contract that would make him the highest-paid player on the team, eclipsing C.J. Mosley’s annual average value of $17 million. The Jets were not interested in meeting that price and things were further complicated when the coronavirus pandemic hit and economic picture in the NFL became uncertain.

The Jets told Adams’ representative in May that he would not be getting a contract offer at that time and that is when Adams began a social media campaign against the Jets and requested permission to seek a trade. He provided the Jets with a list of teams he would like to be traded to and that included the Seahawaks along with the 49ers, Cowboys, Ravens, Texans, Chiefs and Eagles. Adams has grown frustrated with the Jets’ losing and was seeking to go to an organization that has had recent success. The Jets were 16-32 with Adams on the team.

He ramped up his efforts to get traded this week, first taking a shot at owner Woody Johnson after it was reported he allegedly made racist and sexist remarks in his role as Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He followed that up with an interview in the Daily News that included ripping Gase and Douglas.

Adams is the latest in a line of Jets star players that ended up being traded by the team. Keyshawn Johnson, John Abraham, Darrelle Revis and Sheldon Richardson are all Pro Bowl players eventually traded by the Jets.

The Jets are scheduled to report to training camp on Tuesday. Adams should see his former teammates on Dec. 13 when the Jets are scheduled to travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks.