The Seahawks Are Reuniting Jamal Adams With a Former Jets Teammate in an Attempt to Keep up With the Brutally Tough NFC West
Sarah Jacobson A Seattle native, Jamal Adams is the Jets’ top draft pick in this year’s draft. He ended up going one spot before the Seahawks selected Budda Baker, a defensive back from Washington—a rival school of Adams’ alma mater, LSU. Adams and Baker will be reunited, though they won’t be getting along at first. Adams will be a Seattle Seahawk in 2018, the team that drafted him.
The Seahawks were already expected to be one of the NFL’s best defensive teams this season, and now it looks like they will be able to do even more damage by reuniting one of their best defensive players with a former Jets teammate. Seattle has signed safety Jamal Adams to a four-year contract, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal is worth $47 million and includes $37 million in guaranteed money, per Rapoport.
As reports of the Seattle Seahawks signing former New York Jets linebacker Avery Williamson continue to swirl, one of the primary reasons for their interest in Williamson is his familiarity with Seattle’s 2017 first round pick, Jamal Adams. The two were drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and Williamson has known Adams since he was in college.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers have been the buzz of the NFC West after both acquiring new franchise quarterbacks this summer. That is not to say that the Seattle Seahawks should be overlooked.
In fact, the Seahawks have secretly started preparing for another playoff participation in 2021, having just added to their cornerback depth to keep up with their aggressively difficult division.
Bless Austin, a former Jets cornerback, has signed with the Seahawks.
According to Dave Wyman of @Seahawks Saturday Night on @Q13FOX, the club has signed CB Blessuan Austin, who has started 16 games for the #Jets in the past two seasons, including 10 last year. Rutgers third-year player and previous sixth-round selection. https://t.co/FmN72MlA49
Aaron Levine (@AaronQ13Fox) (@AaronQ13Fox) (@AaronQ13Fox) (@A 5th of September, 2021
After two up-and-down years with the New York Jets, Blessuan (Bless) Austin joins the Seahawks. Austin outperformed expectations as a sixth-round selection in 2019 by starting 16 games for the Jets. However, despite the fact that Week 1 was just a few days away, New York cut him.
For those who have been following the Jets this summer, Austin’s release came as a surprise. The Jets don’t exactly have a “strong” secondary, but the 25-year-old corner received first-team work throughout training camp and the preseason.
It’s unusual to see a rebuilding team like New York break ways with a young player who has previously shown starting-caliber promise.
Last season, Austin was targeted 73 times and allowed 48 total completions. When facing Austin, opposing quarterbacks had a passing rating of 97.9. These aren’t very remarkable statistics, but at such a young age, many have Austin pegged as a talent who will break out in 2021. In the NFL, it’s common for cornerbacks to need a few seasons to really shine.
Austin is in Seattle with former Jets teammate Jamal Adams.
Bless Austin, the new Seahawks cornerback | Rich Schultz/Getty Images
After his unexpected release, Austin wasn’t a free agent for long. The Seahawks jumped at the chance to sign him, bringing him back together with former Jets colleague Jamal Adams.
Adams just agreed to a multi-year contract deal in Seattle. Austin is expected to join him as a key member of the Seahawks’ new-look defense.
For what it’s worth, the Seattle secondary has gone through a lot of changes this summer. They dealt for former second-round pick Sidney Jones while also dealing away veteran CB Ahkello Witherspoon before signing Austin.
Shaquill Griffin, the team’s starting cornerback last season, also left free agency. With the Jacksonville Jaguars, he signed a long-term deal.
The Seahawks are attempting to stay up with an NFC West that is dominated by offense.
I’m excited to see Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, and Marquise Blair play together this season. In 2021, the Seahawks’ secondary will feature speed, aggression, and attitude once again.
August 31, 2021 — Jake Heaps (@jtheaps9)
Why are the Seahawks revamping their secondary so quickly? To begin with, the NFC West is shaping up to be a real slugfest this season.
Matthew Stafford was drafted in lieu quarterback Jared Goff by the Los Angeles Rams. Trey Lance was selected third overall by the 49ers. Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins are still a concern for the Arizona Cardinals. Russell Wilson, Tyler Lockett, and D.K. Metcalf lead the Seattle Seahawks’ high-powered attack. That won’t matter if they can’t regularly slow down their divisional opponents.
The Seahawks are attempting to bridge the gap between Griffin and Austin. Seattle may have a competitive defense in 2021 if Austin has the aforementioned breakthrough season while playing with former colleague Adams.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
Russell Wilson is only a few wins away from breaking one of Peyton Manning’s most illustrious NFL records.
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