Two NFL teams that have had pretty shaky draft success in recent years just completed a whopper of a trade that involved a lot of draft picks.
The Seattle Seahawks, who haven’t drafted a Pro Bowler in the first round since John Schneider’s first season as GM in 2010, just shipped away the team’s next two first-round picks — plus a little more — for Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams. The New York Jets, who now have none of their first-round picks prior to 2018 still on the roster, now have some strong draft ammo the next two years.
So what does it tell us from a draft perspective about the two teams? For the Seahawks, it appears to be a sign that they believe Adams is the missing piece they need on defense, and that can’t go overlooked. But it also might be an indication that they’re well aware of their mixed-bag results atop the draft in recent years, perennially picking the in the mid-to-late 20s.
And for the Jets, this trade could have a massive impact on the direction of the team over the coming few seasons. It’s not a stretch to say that dealing Adams might be a canary in a coal mine for head coach Adam Gase, defensive coordinator and QB Sam Darnold.
Are Jets loading up to draft Sam Darnold’s replacement? When the Jets selected Darnold in Round 1 of the 2018 draft, it was a leap of faith to move up three spots, costing the team three second-rounders to do so.—AP
