Three reasons Seattle Seahawks should immediately move on from Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams special purpose is less special now

In 2020, by far Adams' best year with the Seahawks, he had 12 quarterback hits and the aforementioned 9.5 sacks. One way he got to these numbers is because he seemed to be gifted in knowing just when the ball would be snapped and then he could avoid would-be blockers on his way to chasing down quarterbacks. He also was blitzed 8 times a game on average.

His pressure numbers fell incredibly in 2021 from his 2018 through 2020 levels. In 2018 with the Jets, he had 22 total pressures, in 2019 he had 25, and in 2020 Adams had 34. But in 2021, even though he played the same number of games (12) as he did the season before, Adams had just 7 pressures, zero sacks, and 2 quarterback hits. So far in 2023, his numbers are 6, 0, and 1, respectively. Adams is no better now than he was in 2021.

Is he being blitzed less? Of course. This year he only blitzes about 3 times a game. But if does the match of 3 blitzes versus 8 blitzes, his numbers would still be nowhere close to how good he was in 2020. Much of Adams' uniqueness is derived from his pass rush ability and if he lacks real production, what is his use to the Seahawks really? Plus, Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon might simply be a better blitzer from the secondary anyway; he has one more quarterback pressure this year than does Adams.

So Adams is getting less pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Fine. Maybe he is more in a traditional safety role, but even at that, he is costing his team. His run defense grade is only 61.0, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which is the lowest of his career in a season where he played more than one game. Also, he has missed 13.7 percent of his tackle attempts this year, by far the worst mark of his career.