Why Seahawks Duane Brown not practicing is different than Jamal Adams

For all intents and purposes, Seahawks Duane Brown and Jamal Adams are both holding-in during training camp so far. But their contract issues are different for both player and the team. Both players are necessary for the Seahawks to win in 2021 but beyond that? That’s the big question.

Of the two players to keep happy, Adams is the more important. I am not saying Adams is the better player overall. Brown is a likely Hall of Fame left tackle. But Seattle gave up a lot more draft capital to get Adams than they did when they traded for Duane Brown and, most importantly, Adams has a lot more years to play football at a high level than does Brown.

Both Adams and Brown are doing the new football thing of holding-in. This means a player shows up to camp, takes part in team meetings but doesn’t actually do any drills on the field. For a veteran player (a player not still on their rookie contract) to not show at training camp at all costs that player $50,000 a day. That adds up pretty quickly even for a player making millions.

There is a difference for Seahawks between Jamal Adams and Duane Brown

To be honest, I do not care if Adams and Brown don’t take part in any drills but still play in week one. Yes, drills are important to build cohesion but both players are smart and have several years in the NFL and can acclimate quickly to playing live snaps. Plus, not taking part in drills or preseason games keeps both players from risking injury.

But Brown probably feels greater pressure to get an extension worked out for 2022 than does Adams. Brown will turn 36 years old before the season and might have a couple of very good years left. He’s already paid this year and will make a base of $10 million. Heck, if he accepts an extension of $10 million for 2022, I say the Seahawks should do it today.

The problem, though, becomes an aging player is one who gets injured more and usually takes longer to recover. No, Seattle doesn’t have a left tackle on the roster who could immediately step in long-term for Brown but could they get through a year or two without Brown? Yes, though they wouldn’t be as good along the offensive line.

By 2023, Brown likely will not be a member of the Seahawks anymore.

But Adams needs to be playing for Seattle for at least five more years and one can assume those seasons will be played at a Pro Bowl level. Brown hasn’t made a Pro Bowl since 2017, though he did just give up one sack last year and had one penalty called against him.

The difference between Duane Brown holding-in for the Seahawks versus Jamal Adams is that Adams is the greater need to have an extension done. He is one of the most important players for the future of the Seahawks while Brown is simply an important player in 2021 and possibly 2022 but not after that.