Evaluating what a Jamal Adams extension could look like
By Geoff Shull
With Jamal Adams holding all the leverage, where does this leave the Seahawks in this proposed negotiation?
Well, I can tell you, the Seahawks know what they are getting in to. Adams is known to have the desire to be the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL. They would have already come to terms with this. The question remains, by how much?
I can almost guarantee you that the Seahawks are hoping that playing in Seattle for a year will reduce his asking price. They are likely banking of their phenomenal culture, top tier coaching staff and back-office team being enough of a selling point that he thinks: ‘I don’t want to be anywhere else. I have been in a dysfunctional organization and Seattle is top of the line and something I cannot miss on.’
This is a risky bet. However, it is known that Seattle does indeed having a winning culture in every sense of the word. This is likely their only hope to bring back some leverage to the negotiation table outside of the ability to consistently compete.
The Seahawks are a very cap conscious organization. John Schneider has been labeled as a top GM in the league for years because of his willingness to swing for the fences and manage the cap effectively. For this reason, I would be very surprised if they paid Adams $20 million per year.
After all, they wouldn’t pay that for a player who played a premium position like Jadeveon Clowney or Frank Clark. What I can see them pushing for is something in the ballpark of $16 million per year.
This would be enough to make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL. It would also give him a top 3 defensive back salary. The main scare for me is that there is some serious talent in next year’s defensive back free agency class. Every big contract they sign will bump up Adams asking price all the more.
A couple of examples:
Players Team PFF Grade
Jalen Ramsey, CB Rams 71.5
Tre’Darious White, CB Bill 75.6
Keanu Neal, S Falcons 78.1
Budda Baker, S Cardinals 71.4
Where I can see negotiations settling would be right around linebacker money. I can almost assure you he will demand to be the highest-paid defensive player on the Seahawks.
He would want to be at least a hair above the $18 million per year that they are paying Bobby Wagner. This would give Adams the top salary on the Seahawks defense and top 12 for all defensive players.
One quick note before I go into the proposed contract details: Adams will have one year left on his deal after this current season (2021). This is the fifth year option that the Jets picked up. This price tag comes in at $9.86 million for that season. Any extension offered would be in addition to this season.
My proposed extension:
Terms: 3-year extension, $54.5 million
Avg Salary: $18.16 million
Guaranteed: $38 million
Now it is time to add the fifth-year option for the 2021 season to the contract. This is what the total value of the contract would look like, as well as the potential cap hits.
Total contract value:
Terms: 4 years, $64.36 million
Avg Salary: $16.1 million
Guaranteed: $38 million
Cap hits by year:
- 2021: $9.36 million
- 2022: $16 million
- 2023: $18.75 million
- 2024: $20.25 million
Effectively, Seattle would get their wish. His overall salary would come back down to right around $16 million per year. Meanwhile, Jamal would get his bragging rights by having the richest new money deal on the team, outside of Russell Wilson.
Just to be clear, I chose to not have this as a 5-year contract for one simple reason. The Seahawks don’t offer 5-year deals anymore. They have been burned in the past and don’t believe the risk, reward ratio makes it worthwhile.
Next. Three players Seahawks need to sign for 2020. dark
All in all, this would be a win-win. Seattle has top 10 cap space in each of the next 2 off-seasons. They need key cogs on both sides on the ball. With Adams just now entering his prime. He is more than worthy of the investment long term and despite the massive future cap hits.