Joe Douglas wasn’t going to give Jamal Adams away for nothing.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, when the Cowboys called the Jets to inquire about Adams, Douglas responded by asking about the availability of Dallas’ two Pro Bowl offensive linemen – guard Zack Martin and left tackle Tyron Smith. The Cowboys declined to include either in any trade for the talented Jets safety, and the two sides couldn’t come to a deal before the trade deadline. The best Dallas offered was a first-round pick and backup cornerback Anthony Brown, according to Rapoport.
Adams is a valuable asset for the Jets, but the potential to bring in a perennial Pro Bowler on the offensive line would have been an incredible win for Douglas. The Jets offensive line has been ravaged by injury and poor play, and the veteran presence of either Martin or Smith would have done wonders for Sam Darnold and the long-term future of the Jets. Both linemen are 28, in the midst of long-term contracts and have been instrumental in the Cowboys’ recent success.
It’s an encouraging sign to see Douglas attempt to land the best talent, especially at a position of weakness like the offensive line. The Jets can’t afford to risk Darnold’s development by putting him behind a makeshift offensive line during his formative years as a quarterback.
However, Douglas’ attempt to upgrade the line may have come at the cost of upsetting Adams indefinitely. The trade talks perturbed Adams to the point where he refused to answer calls from Douglas or Adam Gase and told reporters he didn’t know about his future with the Jets. Adams felt like Douglas was shopping him, but Rapoport said the Jets actually received “double-digit phone calls” for Adams, with the Cowboys, Ravens and an unnamed third team offering the strongest trades.
While no trade occurred, this report shows Douglas is willing to put every player on the table if it can lead to long-term stability for the Jets. The deadline also showed Douglas won’t ship a player away unless he gets back the return he wants. Both are good things, and a sign the Jets may have made the right call at general manager. But there is still a lot of work to be done, and it starts with repairing the relationship with Adams.
