This morning, Adam Schefter reported that the Jets don’t expect Jamal Adams to participate in their voluntary virtual offseason workouts next month. This isn’t a total surprise as we know they were entertaining trade offers at the mid-season deadline, and are reportedly “reluctant” to offer him a long term extension.
There’s currently no reason to believe the Eagles are pursuing a trade for Adams, but it’s not hard to imagine why that might be a possibility.
Between the recently departed Malcolm Jenkins, and the age of Rodney McLeod, the Eagles are expected to be looking for a young safety in next weeks NFL Draft. We know Howie isn’t averse to making a big splash on draft day, and if the opportunity presents itself, I think he (and a few other teams) would be willing to jump at Adams.
Obviously the connection between Jets’ GM Joe Douglas and the Eagles is well-known, and I would assume that Howie is the first call that Douglas would answer if multiple teams come ringing. He’s also familiar with a handful of players in the Eagles locker room, so if a trade for Adams were to include a player or two, Douglas would be comfortable dealing with the Birds’ roster more so than any other club.
Howie Roseman and the front office have gone to great lengths to upgrade the secondary this offseason. He’s openly lamented that he’s tired of watching opposing teams throw the ball all over the secondary, and he clearly understands that one of the best ways to make Wentz’s job easier is to make sure he’s not forced into a shoot-out each week.
I realize it’s corny to immediately link every player who’s rumored to be on the trade block with the Eagles, but Adams feels like a natural connection despite no real supporting evidence. You could argue that the defense is missing a true leader on the back end of their defense in the absence of Jenkins, and an All-Pro like Adams would immediately fill that void.
There’s been a lot of talk of trading for Yannick Ngakoue this offseason, but unlike Ngakoue, Jamal Adams is actually one of the premier players at his position. I would have a hard time justifying a massive trade package and contract extension for Ngakoue, but Adams is 100% worth every penny for a team that needs a) better coverage, and b) better tackling out of their secondary.