Jamal Adams trade becomes more lopsided after 'serious' injury

The Seahawks' 2020 blockbuster trade for safety Jamal Adams has taken another turn for the worse after Adams went down with a "serious" left knee injury on Monday night.

Adams was carted off the field in significant pain in the first half of Seattle's win over the Broncos with what is believed to be an injury to his left quadriceps tendon. Pete Carroll said in a radio appearance Tuesday, "It's serious, and it just breaks your heart." 

Adams' injury is one of a few setbacks since he was traded by the Jets two years ago. He's missed a total of nine games over the last two seasons and wasn't selected to either All-Pro Team in 2021 for the first time since his rookie year. 

Known for thriving in blitz packages, Adams' sack total dropped from 9.5 in 2020 to zero in 2021. The Seahawks gave Adams a four-year, $70 million extension with $38 million guaranteed in August 2021.

Seattle sent two first-round picks, a third-round pick and Bradley McDougald to New York for Adams and a fourth-round pick after Adams requested a trade in 2020. The Seahawks haven't gotten the same production out of Adams as the Jets did to this point and haven't won a playoff game since the deal. 

The Jets, on the other hand, might have landed two franchise building blocks in the trade. McDougald didn't pan out, but the Jets packaged two of the three picks to move up for USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in 2021. Joe Douglas used the second first-round pick from Seattle on Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson in April. 

While the Jets haven't reached any level of success as a team yet, Vera-Tucker looks like a long-term starter, and Wilson is viewed as a potential No. 1 wide receiver. The Seahawks used their fourth-round pick on cornerback Coby Bryant, who played two snaps in his debut Monday. 

With Adams unlikely to play again this season, due a $18.1 million cap hit in 2023 and the Seahawks not likely to be a contender any time soon, it's becoming clear the trade was a blunder for Seattle.