Would Keep Options Open

The best-case scenario for the New York Jets would be to keep Jamal Adams long-term but it’s important to keep their options open. He is a critical anchor of the defense as an elite safety and keeping talents of that kind are vital to building an impactful overall unit.

If the Jets determined they don’t want to have Adams on their books long-term they wouldn’t be forced to keep him after signing him to an extension. New York could buy themselves more time to find a trade suitor if that were to occur.

The potential return for trading away an elite talent as a reaction to them making headlines about contract talks typically doesn’t end in a favorable outcome. It’s important to regain as much leverage as possible when it’s a player of Adams’ caliber.