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He's got three Pro Bowl appearances, the single-season sack record for defensive backs and is in year two of a four-year, $70-million extension.
He was the prize that prompted the Seahawks to send two first-round picks to the Jets in 2020. Oh, and he's only 28.
But what if the Seahawks would be better off without this man — Jamal Adams — taking the field going forward? What if his absence Monday night confirmed that, at this point, the safety is more of a liability than an asset?
I can't help but think that such questions had been brewing in fans' minds for a few weeks before hitting a boiling point Monday. Adams' injury history, suspect coverage and off-the-field antics have taken his popularity from fire to flicker.
I've argued before that he may be the centerpiece of the worst Seahawks trade (and worst extension?) in the Pete Carroll-John Schneider era. But what if relegating him to the sideline — even if he's healthy — is the move? And I'm not necessarily talking about this season alone.
There have been some pretty conspicuous blunders lately.
Exhibit A: With the Seahawks up 35-30 in Dallas late last month, Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson beat Adams one-on-one en route to catching a 12-yard touchdown pass to put his team up for good. This is what prompted the infamous "yikes" exchange with a New York sports reporter.
Exhibit B: With the Seahawks up 10-7 in the first half against the 49ers two Sundays ago, Adams got caught flat-footed as San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel sped right past him before hauling in a 54-yard TD pass from Brock Purdy. The Niners outplayed Seattle throughout the afternoon in their 28-16 victory, so you can't pin that loss on Jamal. But that play was a distinct momentum changer in a game that ended Seattle's hopes for a division title.
Exhibit C: Well, this happened with Adams out (as in not even at Lumen Field) with a knee injury. With him inactive, safety Julian Love came in as the starting strong safety. And in that role, Love made two interceptions — the first of which kept the Seahawks in the game, and the second of which sealed the game — prompting Love to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
One game does not make a player. Often, one season does not make a player, which Seattle cornerback Riq Woolen's demotion to second-stringer is demonstrating. But Love provided a convincing bit of evidence that the Seahawks may just be better off without No. 33 on the field.
About a week and a half ago, I spoke to former Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright about a variety of issues he sees facing his old team. But the quote that most stood out to me was this.
"If I go out there and I see the same personnel. If I go out there and I see the same guys out there on defense on a consistent basis. To say that they're serious about winning, I have to question it," Wright said.
He didn't offer any names, and I didn't press him on it. But we can all make assumptions.
No doubt that Adams had his share of highlights with the Seahawks. He compiled 9.5 sacks in 12 games in 2020 to set the all-time mark for DBs. That was likely the key stat that earned him the lucrative extension he's playing on now.
And earlier this season vs. the Browns, his pass rush prompted Cleveland quarterback PJ Walker to throw the ball off Adams' helmet, causing a ricochet that led to a late pick in Seattle's comeback win.
But moments such as that have been rare of late. And even when Adams was tallying all those sacks, his coverage was so subpar that Pro Football Focus still graded him as a middling safety.
Add that to all the injuries — he's missed 30 games over the past four seasons — plus his social-media behavior that we don't have to revisit ... and you have to wonder if it's just time to move on.
Of course, there is the following.
Even so, Adams hasn't been producing. And he hasn't for a while — unless we're talking about headaches for the 12s.
