Jamal Adams wants a new contract now, and to hammer his point home, he’s not participating in the Jets’ off-season program, which is virtual.
Adams is entering the fourth season of his rookie contract. The Jets recently picked up his fifth-year option, so the safety is under the team’s control for the next two years. The team can also put the franchise tag on him in his sixth-season, if they so chose.
So the Jets have the ability to keep the player under their control for the next three seasons.
But Adams wants a new lucrative long-term contract now.
However, one problem with giving in to Adams’ demands now is the precedent it sets. If the Jets rip up Adams contract now, after three years, other first-round picks, like Mekhi Becton (if he plays well), will look to do the same.
As Yahoo’s Charles Robinson pointed out on Twitter: “Sticking point on extension is simple. Guys like Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack played four seasons (and won DPOY) before their extensions. Jets don’t want to do Adams’ deal after three years for the highest-paid-safety money he wants. In 2021 it could be a different story.”
So the Jets likely want Adams to follow the same path as Donald and Mack, and wait until after the fourth year of his deal.
Adams clearly wants something now. The NFL is a brutal sport, and if you wait too long to get paid the big bucks, you might get hurt, and not get that huge contract. Jamal’s father George Adams, a former Giants running back, can attest to that. He suffered a serious hip injury ending his career prematurely.
You can understand both sides of the argument.
So what’s the solution?
Perhaps a band-aid deal. The Jets sweeten Adams contract a little this year so he’s not the 12th highest-paid player on the team (according to overthecap.com), and then give him the long-term extension in 2021.
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