John Lynch, if you're reading (you're not) whatever you do, do not trade for Jets SS Jamal Adams.
Once again, Adams has made the headlines with another attempt to force his way off of the New York Jets. This time taking shots at Jets head coach Adam Gase and GM Joe Douglas. Adams questions Gase's leadership and Douglas' experience in his recent interview with Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Earlier in the week Adams tweeted his displeasure with Jets owner Woody Johnson due to allegations of racist and sexist remarks made by Johnson. When the Jets take off in 2020, it's hard to imagine Adams being along for the flight.
The 49ers have been a team connected to Adams in the rumor mill. Mercurial 49ers beat writer Grant Cohn suggested as much a month ago in his piece for SI.com. The 49ers must say "no" to this disgruntled star, and here are 33 reasons why:
1. #PayGeorgeKittle - No room for a luxury player at SS when the best tight end in the game is yet to have his plate filled.
2. OBJ Effect - Look no further than former NYG star Odell Beckham Jr. for an example of a NY superstar who was never satisfied and talked his way out of town. Similar to Adams, OBJ originally asked for a new contract from the Giants. When he received that contract, he went onto ESPN with Lil' Wayne complaining about the offense. Adams is cut from this cloth: it's not just about the money, it's about getting his way. Word is Adams has even stated he'd play out the final 2 years of his deal if the Jets trade him.
3. LT Trent Williams - The 49ers trade for Williams in the offseason and he has 1 year left on his contract. If they want to keep Williams, Adams should be out of the question due to his salary demands.
4. Impact of the SS position - The 49ers aren't a strong safety away from a Super Bowl victory. As talented as Adams may be, SS is a low impact position and not worth a hefty investment.
5. #PayGeorgeKittle
6. 2021 Safety Prospects - The 49ers have had great success when drafting defensive players. Tankathon has 7 safeties ranked in its top 100 prospects. If you need to find a new SS, buy low.
7. Richard Sherman SS? - Read All About It!
8. Chemistry - The 49ers team is a tight knit unit, bringing in a voice like Jamal Adams could stir some unrest. Especially if Adams' contract keeps home grown talent from getting theirs.
9. LB Fred Warner - #54 is the heart and soul of the 49ers defense, heading into the third year of his rookie deal. Charity starts at home.
10. Adams' Trade Value - To land a top notch talent like Jamal Adams the Jets will be commanding a heavy bounty. The 49ers can't afford to surrender numerous draft picks when they have 18 free agents in 2021.
11. SS Jacquiski Tartt - The player currently manning the SS position did a fine job in 2020. While he isn't a superstar, or even the long-term answer (FA in 2021), Tartt has an established connection and chemistry with the current 49ers secondary.
12. #PayGeorgeKittle
13. RT Mike McGlinchey - Another homegrown talent entering the 3rd year of his contract, Mike McGlinchey is an anchor on the 49ers offensive line and will be looking to get paid in the very near future. Paying Adams would cause the 49ers to lose not just one, but a few foundational pieces of their franchise.
14. He'd Rather be a Cowboy - I'll just leave this here:
15. Adams' Financial Cost - Currently the highest paid safeties in the NFL get paid roughly $14m per season. No, thank you, Jamal Adams.
16. Vocal Distraction - One thing the 49ers don't need is a player who'll be such a vocal distraction. As much as Adams would want you to believe the Jets are the source of all his issues and would be as quiet as a church mouse if he was traded, there's reason to doubt this. He has persistent presences on social media, with Twitter fingers often ablaze with some type of controversial comment. Not only that, Adams seems to seek attention at all costs, not knowing when to draw boundaries around when, where and who to share his opinion with.
17. SS Marcell Harris - Harris has filled in for Jaquiski Tartt in the past and has been a capable player. He is young, cheap and someone who already knows the system and is familiar with teammates.
18. #PayGeorgeKittle
19. SS Jabrill Peppers - A free-agent in 2021, Peppers was a versatile talent coming out of Michigan years ago was graded similarly to 49ers current SS Jacquiski Tartt by Pro Football Focus (Peppers 66.6 - Tartt 66.4).
20. Reduced Salary Cap - There have been rumors circulating suggesting NFL owners seek to drastically reduce the 2021 salary cap. If this happens, the 49ers would face a decreased ability to hold on to already established players, much less to add a SS with a lofty price-tag.
21. Jimmy G - The controversial QB is only going to get better. With this being said, the 49ers have him on contract for three more seasons. With Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes resetting the QB market with his record-breaking deal this offseason, the next contract for James Richard Garoppolo will be much more expensive than the one he signed 2 seasons ago. The 49ers must plan to keep Jimmy around for the long haul, and a SS who costs $15m a season will do nothing to help the 49ers accomplish that.
22. DE Nick Bosa - See the above blurb on Garoppolo and apply to Bosa, who is on his way to being one of the most dominant DEs in football. Then take note of Browns DE Myles Garret landing a deal that pays him roughly $25 million a year. Yep, the 49ers have a lot of good problems on their hands.
23. Adams: 3 Seasons, 2 Interceptions - If the 49ers are missing one thing from their safety duo, it's the ability to snag an interception or two. Through three seasons, Adams has registered only 2 interceptions. If the 49ers plan to make a change at SS, they should at least bring in someone who'll snatch the ball out of the air more than twice in 46 games.
24. #PayGeorgeKittle
25. #Pay85
26. #PayKittleGeorge
27. #PayThePeoplesTightEnd
28. #Pay@gkittle46
29. #PayGeorgeKriegerKittle
30. #PayTheBestTEinFootball
31. #PayTheTEwithMostRecievingYardsInOneSeason
32. #PayIowaHawekye46
33. #PayStoneColdKittle
And there you have it, 33 reasons the 49ers should steer clear of any Jamal Adams trade this offseason. Sorry, Grant Cohn.
- Gilbert Brink
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Written by:49ers outsider, residing in the Hudson Valley, representing 30+ years of the 49ers experience
