Jamal Adams has been the most vocal player in search of a trade this offseason, but the Jets safety isn’t alone.
Elsewhere in the league, San Francisco 49ers RB Raheem Mostert, Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue and Browns TE David Njoku also want out of their respective situations. As ESPN’s Field Yates noted, trade for Mostert, Adams and Ngakoue will likely come with a contract extension. Njoku is presumably looking for a change of scenery after Cleveland brought in fellow tight end Austin Hooper.
Let’s take a closer look at the four players currently seeking a trade and where their situations stand.
Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams has made his demands unhappiness with the Jets known through social media.
Despite Joe Douglas expressing that the team would like to make the All-Pro safety a “Jet for life,” there has been no progress on a contract extension for Adams. With the two sides hitting a stalemate, Adams chose the only leverage option he had left — requesting a trade. Adams made a trade destination wish list, which includes eight teams, but the Jets have no plans on giving in to his demands.
With two years of team control left, New York has no reason to trade Adams. Right now, it’s more likely than not that he’ll remain with Gang Green unless Douglas is given an offer he can’t refuse.
Yannick Ngakoue
Yannick Ngakoue has made it well known that he wants out of Jacksonville. The Jaguars’ Pro Bowl defensive end has gone as far as feuding with the team’s co-owner, Tony Khan, on Twitter.
Ngakoue has refused to sign his franchise tag tender, which is worth $17.788 million. He would be guaranteed all of that for the 2020 season. Still, Ngakoue has cited irreconcilable differences and has no interest in signing a long-term deal in Jacksonville.
Jaguars’ general manager Dave Caldwell said this week that the team has yet to receive a single trade offer for Ngakoue’s services, but they’re still willing to welcome him back with open arms. While Ngakoue has shown his hand, the Jaguars haven’t blinked. Jacksonville drafted K’Lavon Chaisson, a pass-rusher out of LSU, with one of its first-round picks in April’s draft.
RB Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers
Raheem Mostert requested a trade this past Wednesday after he and the 49ers reached an impasse on contract negotiations. The 28-year-old running back played a major role in San Fransisco’s march to the Super Bowl.
A career journeyman before his breakout season in 2019, Mostert sees this as his last chance at getting paid. He is scheduled to earn $3.15 million in 2020 and has two years remaining on his current deal. With the market continuing to teeter against running backs, the 49ers have leverage over the disgruntled Mostert.
TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku is not searching for a new deal but rather feels there’s no longer a role for him in Cleveland’s offense. The Browns’ current regime did not draft Njoku and they elected to sign Austin Hooper to a lucrative deal in free agency while drafting Harrison Bryant in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
A former first-round pick out of the University of Miami, Njoku carved out a role for himself as Cleveland’s starting tight end in 2018. Unfortunately for Njoku, a concussion and broken wrist put him on the shelf for the majority of the 2019 season. He caught five passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in just four games.
With Njoku falling out of favor, it appears that a change of scenery is needed for both parties.
