The Seattle Times’ Adam Jude has done an excellent job covering the Seattle Seahawks-Jamal Adams contract extension story, and now we have more details on just how close (or how far apart) the two sides are to an agreement.
According to Jude, Seattle’s most recent offer totals $70 million over four years, which would make him the highest paid safety in the NFL by a comfortable margin. Sounds too good to pass up, right? Well you aren’t represented by a professional sports agent, are you? That’s why you read on.
On Friday, the Seahawks made what they labeled their final offer: $17.5 million in total annual compensation on a four-year contract, with roughly $38 million guaranteed, a deal that would make Adams the highest-paid safety in the NFL.
The average per year, though, also would be just below the $18 million of middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, a key consideration for the Seahawks in leaving the 10-year veteran and longtime defensive captain as the highest-paid defensive player on the team.
Adams’ representatives seemed amenable to that salary package and then countered with what they saw as a reasonable request: $40 million in guarantees, $2 million more than the Seahawks’ offer.
Adams’ camp also wanted to move bonus money into the first three years of the contract; the Seahawks prefer to spread it over all four years.
For perspective, Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos is the current highest-paid safety at $15.25 million APY. You don’t need to be a mathematician to figure out that $17.5 million is more than just bare minimum one-upping. That average is higher than all but three linebackers (of which Bobby Wagner is one of them) and all but two outside cornerbacks (Marlon Humphrey and Jalen Ramsey).
But the sticking point seems to be the guarantees. Even with the Seahawks reportedly “not budging” on another offer, it seems they are closer than you think to coming to terms and getting Adams his money. John Gilbert already outlined some of the scenarios before new details emerged on Wednesday night, including the potential structure of a four-year, $70M contract.
Jude noted that the Seahawks could slap on the franchise tag for Adams in 2022, but Seattle has rarely used the tag under Schneider/Carroll; the most recent instance saw them tag Frank Clark with the sole purpose of trading him to Kansas City. That Adams showed up to camp means that the idea of him holding out and not playing at all is ill-advised because he risks forfeiting his $9.8 million salary and having his contract toll.
So for anyone worrying at the moment I’d say it’s August 12th. Week 1 is exactly one month from today and if they are that close on a deal and just having a standoff over the guarantees, then someone is going to balk.
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