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Jamal Adams

Jets should fix relationship with franchise safety

Jamal Adams has demanded a trade from the Jets, and supposedly has 7 or 8 teams he wants to play for. There are two sides to every contract dispute and I don't really know how much Adams should be upset or patient here; not my business. I do think the league doesn't have so many good players that the Jets shouldn't be making every effort to mend fences with their franchise defender.

Adams has only been in the league for three years. In that time, only four defensive backs have more total tackles. But more importantly, Adams has been about the best at his position in terms of difference-making tackles and disruptive plays, both tackles for losses and quarterback hits. Maybe the best.

In each of his three seasons, Adams has 9-10 tackles for losses. Since 2015, only three other defensive backs have even one season with more than 9. He also has averaged 8 quarterback hits in those seasons, which is pretty much unheard of. In those same five years, Malcolm Jenkins is the only defensive back with a single season over that total. Adams has also averaged 4 sacks those three years.

Table shows all defensive backs with more than 5 tackles for loss in a season since 2015.

PLAYMAKING DEFENSIVE BACKS, 2015-2019
Player Tm Year Sk Solo Ast Comb TFL QBHits
Tony JeffersonARI20162.0781896134
Tyrann MathieuARI20151.080989113
Jamal Adams NYJ20196.56114751013
Derrick KindredCLE20170.0431457102
Jamal Adams NYJ20172.063208392
Jamal Adams NYJ20183.5862911598
Jahleel AddaeLAC20170.566309691
Landon CollinsNYG20164.01002512595
Landon CollinsWAS20191.0783911793
Malcolm JenkinsPHI20150.0901910990
Reshad JonesMIA20152.01062913592
Jordan PoyerBUF20182.0732710093
Harrison SmithMIN20183.067178495
Budda Baker ARI20182.0782410283
Mackensie AlexanderMIN20184.03674375
Budda Baker ARI20190.51044314772
Mark BarronLAR20171.073138672
Sean DavisPIT20171.071219272
William GayPIT20151.046125872
Tony JeffersonBAL20172.556237975
Eric ReidCAR20194.0973313075
Harrison SmithMIN20171.561177873
Kenny VaccaroNOR20171.548126072
Adrian AmosCHI20170.06276960
Bryce CallahanCHI20182.03964565
Aaron ColvinJAX20154.060137364
Chris ConteTAM20150.059207960
Rasul DouglasPHI20180.048105860
Brandon FlowersSDG20160.02442860
Chauncey Gardner-JohnsonNOR20190.038114964
Jeff HeathDAL20180.063228560
Will HillBAL20151.049156464
Mike HiltonPIT20191.552136565
Tony JeffersonBAL20181.053217462
Malcolm JenkinsPHI20181.079189761
Malcolm JenkinsPHI20192.563188169
Reshad JonesMIA20171.5942812261
Tyrann MathieuARI20171.07087864
T.J. McDonaldLAR20161.050146464
Ron ParkerKAN20155.067117865
Kenny VaccaroNOR20153.0713310464
Tracy WalkerDET20190.0822110360
Jarrod WilsonJAX20190.057227962

If the Jets do decide to trade Adams, it will be very tough to get equal value, because they'll be making their defense worse, and have long odds of replacing him with a comparable player. The team that acquires him, their defense will get a significant playmaker at the back end of things.

--Andy Richardson

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