Jamal Adams has been traded from the Jets to the Seahawks, a reminder that the squeaky wheel is often the one that gets the grease. And I find myself a lot more interested in Seattle's defense in fantasy leagues. It's been fairly mediocre (in sack- and takeaway-based scoring systems) in recent years, but Adams' presence should help push it up into the top 10.
Seattle paid a steep price for Adams: two first-round picks and a third-rounder in the next two drafts. But the 24-year-old All-Pro is maybe the league's best safety. If you were told you could pull that kind of player out of one of the next two drafts -- but have him for the upcoming season -- it's hard to argue against doing it. Unlikely Seattle would have used those picks any better (Rashaad Penny).
Despite a lofty reputation, Seattle's defense has ranked higher than 13th in fantasy scoring (1 point for sacks, 2 for takeaways, 6 for touchdowns) just twice in the last six seasons. But since coming into the league, Adams has been about the league's best defensive back in making disruptive plays (sacks, hits on quarterbacks and tackles for losses). The best, actually.
In each of his three seasons, Adams has 9-10 tackles for losses. In those three years, only one other defensive back has 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 three 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 2017.
| PLAYMAKING DEFENSIVE BACKS, 2017-2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Year | Sk | Solo | Ast | Comb | TFL | QBHits |
| Jamal Adams, NYJ | 2019 | 6.5 | 61 | 14 | 75 | 10 | 13 |
| Derrick Kindred, Cle. | 2017 | 0.0 | 43 | 14 | 57 | 10 | 2 |
| Jamal Adams, NYJ | 2017 | 2.0 | 63 | 20 | 83 | 9 | 2 |
| Jamal Adams, NYJ | 2018 | 3.5 | 86 | 29 | 115 | 9 | 8 |
| Jahleel Addae, LAC | 2017 | 0.5 | 66 | 30 | 96 | 9 | 1 |
| Landon Collins, Was. | 2019 | 1.0 | 78 | 39 | 117 | 9 | 3 |
| Jordan Poyer, Buf. | 2018 | 2.0 | 73 | 27 | 100 | 9 | 3 |
| Harrison Smith, Min. | 2018 | 3.0 | 67 | 17 | 84 | 9 | 5 |
| Budda Baker, Ari. | 2018 | 2.0 | 78 | 24 | 102 | 8 | 3 |
| Mackensie Alexander, Min. | 2018 | 4.0 | 36 | 7 | 43 | 7 | 5 |
| Budda Baker, Ari. | 2019 | 0.5 | 104 | 43 | 147 | 7 | 2 |
| Mark Barron, LAR | 2017 | 1.0 | 73 | 13 | 86 | 7 | 2 |
| Sean Davis, Pit. | 2017 | 1.0 | 71 | 21 | 92 | 7 | 2 |
| Tony Jefferson, Bal. | 2017 | 2.5 | 56 | 23 | 79 | 7 | 5 |
| Eric Reid, Car. | 2019 | 4.0 | 97 | 33 | 130 | 7 | 5 |
| Harrison Smith, Min. | 2017 | 1.5 | 61 | 17 | 78 | 7 | 3 |
| Kenny Vaccaro, N.O. | 2017 | 1.5 | 48 | 12 | 60 | 7 | 2 |
| Adrian Amos, Chi. | 2017 | 0.0 | 62 | 7 | 69 | 6 | 0 |
| Bryce Callahan, Chi. | 2018 | 2.0 | 39 | 6 | 45 | 6 | 5 |
| Rasul Douglas, Phi. | 2018 | 0.0 | 48 | 10 | 58 | 6 | 0 |
| Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, N.O. | 2019 | 0.0 | 38 | 11 | 49 | 6 | 4 |
| Jeff Heath, Dal. | 2018 | 0.0 | 63 | 22 | 85 | 6 | 0 |
| Mike Hilton, Pit. | 2019 | 1.5 | 52 | 13 | 65 | 6 | 5 |
| Tony Jefferson, Bal. | 2018 | 1.0 | 53 | 21 | 74 | 6 | 2 |
| Malcolm Jenkins, Phi. | 2018 | 1.0 | 79 | 18 | 97 | 6 | 1 |
| Malcolm Jenkins, Phi. | 2019 | 2.5 | 63 | 18 | 81 | 6 | 9 |
| Reshad Jones, Mia. | 2017 | 1.5 | 94 | 28 | 122 | 6 | 1 |
| Tyrann Mathieu, Ari. | 2017 | 1.0 | 70 | 8 | 78 | 6 | 4 |
| Tracy Walker, Det. | 2019 | 0.0 | 82 | 21 | 103 | 6 | 0 |
| Jarrod Wilson, Jac. | 2019 | 0.0 | 57 | 22 | 79 | 6 | 2 |
So Seattle has acquired a significant playmaker at the back end of things. When the magazine came out we had them just inside the top 15 in standard scoring. Far more likely it's a top 10 group now.
As for the Jets, the trade is defensible in terms of the team's long-term prospects. They seemed unable (or unwilling, or both) to make Adams happy, and they weren't realistic playoff contenders with him. Now they've got a pair of future first-round picks and another top-80 type of choice in the next two drafts to improve the team in multiple areas, which they needed.
But as with the Khalil Mack trade a couple of years back, I usually look at it as, well, one of those picks will no doubt be spent attempting (and likely failing) to land a player who's nearly as good as the one just traded away. It's disheartening to the players on the roster, who are more concerned with competing in the season upcoming than acquiring future draft picks, and it has them wondering if they'll be next when it comes time for them to get new contracts. I guess Jets fans can be excited about the 2021 and 2022 NFL Draft, but that's not really what you want to hear in July of 2020.
--Andy Richardson