Were The Browns Wise To Not Trade For Jamal Adams?

The Cleveland Browns were never real contenders for former New York Jets safety Jamal Adams.

However, should they have been more involved?

The Seattle Seahawks traded a haul away for the Pro Bowl and All-Pro safety.

Jets GM Joe Douglass received two first-round picks (2021, 2022), a third-round pick (2021), and safety Bradley McDougald.

Were the Browns wise to let the Seahawks swoop in and steal Saturday’s afternoon?

Not Worth The Haul

When it comes to the safety position, it’s one of those positions that are absolutely disposable.

Take a look at the safeties that received All-Pro status over the last five years.

2019: Minkah Fitzpatrick-Steelers, Jamal Adams-Jets
2018: Eddie Jackson-Bears, Derwin James-Chargers, Jamal Adams-Jets
2017: Kevin Byard-Titans, Harrison Smith-Chargers, Earl Thomas-Seahawks
2016: Landon Collins-Giants, Eric Berry-Chiefs
2015: Tyran Mathieu-Cardinals, Eric Berry-Chiefs

Thomas won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2013, and Mathieu won a Super Bowl this past year with the Chiefs.

Other than that, there is not a game-changing safety that has landed their team a championship, while they were an All-Pro safety for that franchise.

Since then, Collins, Byard, and Jackson have been paid big bucks, and there are serious questions marks around the Redskins, Titans, and Bears respectively.

The Browns do not want to be in that category of discussion.

Money, Money, Money

Adams has two years left on his rookie contract, but after that, a team is going to have to pay him.

Jackson ($14.6 million), Byard ($14.1 million), and Mathieu ($14 million) top the league in highest-paid safeties.

Adams is likely going to command a salary of $15 million and set the new market.

Assuming quarterback Baker Mayfield can resurrect his career in the short-term, a chunk of that money is going to be invested in the quarterback position.

Not to mention, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and Nick Chubb are going to be asking for money soon.

There’s a reason the Browns still have quite a bit of money left in the bank.

With a host of notable free agents available to sign, a look at five teams with the most current cap space:
1. Browns: $38,705,703
2. Washington: $36,539,030
3. Lions (pre-Okudah): $29,188,916
4. Eagles: $24,577,909
5. Bengals: $24,236,690

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 13, 2020

Ball Player

Now, would it have been the end of the world if the Browns traded after him?

No, not at all.

Adams is a true ballplayer.

Jamal Adams ripping it out of his hand and returning it for a TD was the definition of a grown man play 😤 @Prez @Seahawks got a stud 💯 pic.twitter.com/Xj6sL4USyw

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) July 25, 2020