The Jamal Adams minicamp holdout has not produced reports of acrimony between he and the Seahawks. The Seahawks excused Adams’ absence from minicamp , and Pete Carroll described his extension talks as amicable.
An agreement might be on the immediate horizon. All signs are pointing to an extension being finalized around the start of training camp, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Adams is going into a contract year; he is set to earn $9.86 million on the fifth-year option.
Considering what Seattle traded to acquire Adams — 2021 and ’22 first-round picks, a ’21 third and safety Bradley McDougald — it can be easily presumed the impending extension will make him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. Justin Simmons currently holds that distinction, after signing a four-year Broncos deal worth $61 million. Adams will surely try to move the price north by a notable margin.
The Seahawks have authorized top-market extensions before, giving Russell Wilson a then-NFL-record $35 million-per-year deal in April 2019 and extending Bobby Wagner at the current off-ball linebacker high-water mark ($18 million average annual value). They appear poised to include Adams in this blueprint. Wagner signed his current deal around the start of Seattle’s 2019 training camp and agreed to his 2015 extension in early August of that year. Wilson’s first extension (in 2015) occurred days before Wagner’s.
The Seahawks also might create a bit more cap space ahead of an Adams deal, with Carroll also signaling Seattle's interest in keeping Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown beyond his 2021 contract year.
Adams thrives as a box safety and set a position record with 9.5 sacks last season. This unique skill set, while leaving some coverage skills to be desired, figures to factor into the 25-year-old defender’s negotiations. The former Jets top-10 pick began extension discussions way back in January 2020, when he was still a Jet, but talks paused, and Gang Green traded him to Seattle. The Seahawks communicated to Adams a preference he play on his rookie deal last season. Adams did so and made his third straight Pro Bowl. His second NFL team looks set to reward him.
More must-reads: