Seahawks prioritizing Jamal Adams' extension over Duane Brown's?

Two of the Seahawks’ best players are not participating in training camp. Both Jamal Adams and Duane Brown are staging hold-ins, being at Seahawks practices but not working out. Seattle continues to discuss an extension with Adams, and that appears to be holding up matters on the Brown front.

The perception around Seahawks camp points to the team prioritizing an Adams extension before addressing Brown’s situation, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. While both sides expressed optimism an Adams deal could happen this week, the All-Pro safety remains unsigned going into the third week of Seattle’s training camp.

Interestingly, Pete Carroll called the Adams negotiations “amicable,” but he refused to comment on Brown’s situation. Seattle’s 35-year-old left tackle is going into the final year of his contract. His desire for another Seahawks extension has been known for months, but a recent report brought that issue back to the forefront. Brown, 35, is set to earn $10M in base salary this season. While he will not be a candidate to exceed Trent Williams‘ market-topping extension, Brown has stabilized the Seahawks’ left tackle position and would make sense as a short- or medium-length extension candidate.

Unlike Adams, Brown will play in a new scheme this season. The Seahawks still have Ken Norton Jr. in place as their defensive coordinator, but Shane Waldron is now running the team’s offense. Having Brown back soon would help the Seahawks, whose offensive line drew scrutiny from Russell Wilson this offseason. Regarding Brown’s contract, Wilson said Sunday the team has “got to figure that out,” via Condotta. Wilson’s endorsement here certainly helps Brown’s pursuit.

Neither Brown nor Adams participated in Seattle’s minicamp or training camp. Carroll added Brown will also not play in any of the Seahawks’ preseason games, per Condotta. Adams is also recovering from offseason surgery on his hands and one shoulder, per Carroll, who said the fifth-year defender likely would not done too much by this stage of camp anyway.

The Seahawks are on board with making Adams the NFL’s highest-paid safety, but they are aiming to keep Bobby Wagner‘s $18M-per-year deal as their top defensive contract. This creates a range between that and Justin Simmons‘ $15.25M-AAV Broncos pact, which currently tops all safeties. Adams is seeking an extension well north of Simmons’; this goal has likely caused the delay in the Seahawks finalizing an extension. Adams is attached to a $9.86M fifth-year option. While the Seahawks have their 2022 franchise tag to use on Adams, Condotta adds the team began planning a summer 2021 extension upon acquiring the All-Pro safety last year.