Why The New York Jets Should Not Give Jamal Adams A Contract Extension This Year

Jamal Adams and the New York Jets remain embroiled in a contract impasse. But should the Jets give in to the superstar safety?

Maybe next year. But not this year. 

Adams posted on Instagram last week expressing his frustration over an ESPN.com report that the Cleveland Browns were discussing a possible contract extension with edge rusher Myles Garrett. Adams was the picked sixth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft; Garrett was selected first. 

Adams wrote in his Instagram post that “I can’t even get my first proposal that they said they would send over in January…”

He called the Jets “A lot of talk no action.”  

It was the latest salvo in what has been a frustrating off-season for Adams, who has made the last two Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro in 2019. Because of his frustration with the lack of progress toward a new deal, he has refused to participate in New York’s voluntary virtual off-season. 

If it is true that the Jets reneged on a promise to give Adams a proposal, he has a right to be upset. However, it does not change the bottom line in terms of money.

The Jets already have exercised their fifth-year option on Adams for the 2021 season. As I explained here, in this contract impasse, the Jets hold most of the cards. The one card Adams can play is to hold out and not report, if and when 2020 training camp finally begins. Of course, at that point, Adams will lose money for every day he is not there, and will lose game checks if that potential holdout spills into the regular season. 

Adams has not made clear what he is looking for in a new contract. However, it is fair to speculate that he would like something in line with the extension signed by Chicago safety Eddie Jackson in January. It is worth $58.4 million, with $22 million guaranteed, per overthecap.com. In contrast, Adams is scheduled to make a guaranteed salary of $3.5 million in 2020.

Adams’ leadership abilities are not in question. He has been a vocal locker-room leader throughout his tenure with New York, and the Texas native recently joined protesters marching in Dallas against racially-based police brutality following the senseless killing of George Floyd. 

On the field, the safety has earned plenty of accolades, but the fact remains he does not play a premium position, which hinders his ability to get that big-ticket extension. Yes, the Jets utilize him as more than a safety. According to ESPN Stats and Information, Adams lined up last season at safety on 41 percent of his snaps, and at outside linebacker on 39 percent of his snaps.

Maybe that stat can help Adams in a contract negotiation, considering that outside linebacker is much more of a premium position in today’s NFL than safety. But also remember he only had 6.5 sacks last season, and five of those came in back-to-back games against rookie quarterbacks Daniel Jones (New York Giants) and Dwayne Haskins (Washington). 

Ultimately, however, there are several reasons why it would not be prudent for the Jets to pay Adams more money, at least not until 2021. And unfortunately for Adams, only one of those reasons has anything to with his own tangibles, intangibles, or potential for continued stardom. 

 1—Simply put, the Jets don’t have to do it right now. Largely because of the aforementioned fifth-year option, which is part of the CBA and affects first-round draft choices, only 15 first-round selections have received new deals between their third and fourth seasons, out of 191 selections from the 2011-16 NFL Drafts, per espn.com. It also could set a dangerous financial precedent for future Jets’ first-round picks. 

2—Adams does not play a premium position, despite moonlighting at one. It would not be wise for general manager Joe Douglas to reset his salary structure by by giving a megadollar contract to a safety. However, Adams could change that narrative if he continues moonlighting, as I’ll explain shortly. 

3—With all the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is unclear what the 2021 salary cap will look like. But there is a good chance it could decrease from the 2020 figure of $198.2 million given all the variables surrounding this season, including the potential for the lack of in-person fans and the possibility the season might not be completed. Amidst that backdrop, teams may want to hoard as much cap room as possible and carry it over until 2021. 

4—In 46 NFL games, Adams has only two interceptions and 25 pass breakups. However, he has 12 sacks, including 6.5 last season, and it would not be surprising to see defensive coordinator Gregg Williams again utilize him as a blitzing linebacker. As noted, Adams had success last year against rookie QBs, and the Jets could face at least two this season, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert. 

The Jets and Dolphins will play each other on Nov 15 and 29, with a bye for both in between, and will visit the Chargers on Oct. 18. Also, New York will face New England twice. The Patriots plan to use inexperienced second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham to replace living legend Tom Brady, who left for Tampa Bay via free agency. Stidham threw only four passes in mop-up duty as a rookie in 2019, one of which was a pick-six by, of all people, Jamal Adams.