Gang Green Nation
It’s tough to believe, but we are coming up on the fifth anniversary of the Jets trading Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks. Let’s look back on what came of the trade.
In late July 2020, the Jets sent Adams to the Seattle Seahawks along with a 2022 fourth round pick. In exchange, the Jets landed Seattle’s first round picks in 2021 and 2022, a third round pick in 2021, and safety Bradley McDougald.
The addition of Adams made McDougald expendable for Seattle. They included him in the deal as a throw in. The late timing of the trade would have made it difficult for the Jets to find a starting safety to replace Adams on the open market. McDouglad struggled in one disappointing season for the Jets. He left the Jets in free agency, and only played 3 more games in his career.
The real meat and potatoes of the deal were the Draft picks the Jets acquired from Seattle. In 2021, the Jets packaged two of Seattle’s picks (2021 first and third round picks) along with their own third round pick to trade up from 23 to 14 in the first round and pick Alijah Vera-Tucker.
A year later, the Jets used Seattle’s 2022 first round pick to select Garrett Wilson 10th overall.
Adams’ career got off to a fast start in 2020 when he was named Second Team All Pro in his first season in Seattle. However, his career quickly fell off after a disappointing 2021. Adams then played only 10 games in the following two seasons due to injuries and was released. He only played five games between two teams in 2024 and was last seen publicly asking for the Jets to bring him back.
I think it’s fair to say the trade was a very popular move at the time the Jets made it. Adams had worn out his welcome in the fanbase due to his public griping over how the team treated him.
Five years out, the deal looks like one of the best in franchise history. Adams’ career has gone sideways. Had the Jets paid him, it would have likely been ugly.
Instead the team was able to add two cornerstones. Vera-Tucker has dealt with injuries but proven to be a quality starter at guard. Wilson has established himself as a legitimate go-to option. Despite dealing with shaky quarterback play, he has posted more than 1,000 receiving yards all three seasons in the league.
