My Thoughts on the Jamal Adams Trade

The Seahawks recently acquired safety Jamal Adams from the Jets in exchange for two first round picks, a third round pick, and Bradley McDougald.  I have very mixed thoughts on this trade, with my gut telling me we will regret this trade down the line.  I hate that the Hawks basically mortgaged their future just to upgrade at a position, and a position that's not even one of the most important, like quarterback, offensive line, or pass rusher.  

Most consider Jamal Adams the best safety in the NFL.  But you know how often there is a new best player at a position?  About every 2 or 3 years on average.  Some safeties, I will say, have long and lengthy careers that lead them to the Hall of Fame.  Guys like Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu played well into their 30s.  The only way this trade works in the Hawks favor is if Jamal Adams has a career like those guys, and leads the Hawks to at least one Super Bowl.  I wouldn't say the odds of that happening are high.

There is a huge underlying problem with the Hawks which has caused this team to be top-heavy in talent and have a lot of holes on its roster.  John Schneider, Pete Carroll, and the rest of the Seahawks management and scouts can no longer draft well.  They can't.  They have drafted just two players who made the Pro Bowl with the Hawks since 2013, and both (Lockett and Dickson) made it for special teams.  Guys like Germain Ifedi, Malik McDowell, and Ethan Pocic (all first or second round picks) did not pan out.  And there are a ton of doubts with Rashaad Penny and LJ Collier.  

It's because of this lack of ability to find talent in the draft which has forced the Hawks to spend money; to keep their star QB, middle linebacker, and wide receiver.  It's forced them to make these kinds of trades that don't help the team in the long run.  Remember the Percy Harvin trade?  The Hawks did not win a Super Bowl because of that, they won in spite of that.  The Jimmy Graham trade was the start of the dismantling of the offensive line, as Max Unger was traded away.  And then Jadeveon Clowney was acquired for a third round pick (and a couple players), and it's looking like may only get one (injury-plagued) season out of him.  

This trade for Jamal Adams is another transaction in a series of moves that reek of desperation.  The Hawks are still criticized for having one of the worst (if not the worst) combinations of offensive and defensive lines in the NFL.  Pete and John hope that the stellar play of their QB, receivers, running backs, linebackers, and secondary can make up for the struggles the lines will undoubtedly have.  But as the saying goes, "the game is won in the trenches".  And without competent line play, we may just get a lot more of the same thing we've seen the last five years: 9-10 win teams that rely on Russell Wilson magic too much and get knocked out of the playoffs early.