Safety Jamal Adams recently asked the New York Jets for a trade. If the Las Vegas Raiders really wanted the All-Pro, they would have no problems acquiring him.
After contract talks stalled, Adams has asked the Jets to trade him to another team per Rich Cimini of ESPN. He even has a list of preferred destinations: The Ravens, Cowboys, Texans, Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers and Seahawks. Moreover, he doesn’t mind if he doesn’t get a new deal right away (from certain teams).
A source also says there are certain teams Jamal Adams is willing to be traded to where he won't request a contract extension, at least right away.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) June 18, 2020
The Raiders don’t have a pressing need for a safety. After all, they just signed Jeff Heath and Damarious Randall this past offseason. Likewise, Johnathan Abram is fully healthy. Nevertheless, players as talented as Adams aren’t usually available.
How Can the Raiders Obtain Adams?
If Adams had wanted a new contract, the Raiders could have given him a hefty signing bonus and distributed the cap hit throughout the duration of the deal. That’s not the case though and Las Vegas could get Adams and take their time to work out a deal that benefits both parties.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Adams become the richest safety in the NFL and ask for a yearly salary of $15 million. Currently, Eddie Jackson’s deal with the Bears pays him $14.6 million per year. All-Pro Kevin Byrd isn’t that far behind and makes $14.1 million on average. The Raiders could easily afford to pay Adams that kind of salary since they’ve locked most of their core players until the end of the 2021 season. As a matter of fact, they will have $34 million in cap space next year and could add even more if they cut a couple veterans.
Related: Safety Jeff Heath Opens up about Joining Raiders
Should the Raiders Part Ways with Future Draft Picks?
It’s too early to tell what kind of needs the Raiders will have the following offseason. Your guess is as good as mine, but the draft is a crapshoot and Adams is a proven difference maker. Any given first round pick has a 50% chance of panning out. Adams could take the doubt element out of the equation and immediately take his talents with him to Las Vegas. The Raiders could easily send a first, Abram and perhaps a middle/low round pick in return for Adams. The investment in him would be heavy but so would the return.
Why Trade for Adams?
Just because the Raiders can afford Adams doesn’t mean they should try to get him. Nonetheless, top notch safeties don’t grow on trees. He got All-Pro honors the past two years, second team in 2018 and first team last season. As much potential as Abram may have, he is an uncertain commodity at this moment. In the same manner, Randall and Heath have already reached their ceiling. There just aren’t players of Adams’ caliber in the team’s secondary.
Besides his playing prowess, Adams has the kind of attitude Raiders brass is trying to install in the team. He could be the tone-setter and the whole secondary should benefit from his competitive drive. He hasn’t gotten in any kind of trouble and other than making his dissatisfaction public, there aren’t any red flags when it comes to his behavior.
Even though the Raiders aren’t currently showing interest in Jamal Adams, they can easily become a dark horse in the race for the All-Pro safety. They have the means to make it happen.
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Top Photo: Seth Wenig/Associated Press