Cowboys: Missing on Jamal Adams was a mistake, but correctable

The Dallas Cowboys traded for Michael Bennett to beef up their defensive line, but they fell short in improving their secondary with Jamal Adams.

The Dallas Cowboys goal is to win the NFC East Division, make it to the playoffs, and go to the Super Bowl and win it. That’s the main goal because the Cowboys have one of the most talented and youngest rosters in the NFL.

The Cowboys made good on that promise by trading for veteran defensive end Michael Bennett formerly of the New England Patriots. All the Cowboys gave up for the disgruntled edge rusher was a measly seventh rounder with potential to be a sixth rounder.

The much needed Bennett will give the Cowboys defensive line depth and flexibility because Bennett can play on the interior as well as defensive end. Bennett’s presence was much needed because the Cowboys defense has been a shell of itself from last season when it was a top-10 defense.

The lone bright spot is this winter the Jets will still be rebuilding and the Dallas Cowboys will still need a safety. It stands to reason the trade price will go down and a deal could still be struck in the offseason.

With Bennett’ s acquisition solving one problem, the Cowboys still needed to address another issue with its secondary and did a good job of trying to trade for New York Jets safety Jamal Adams. At the end of the day the Jets asking price was too steep for owner/and general manager Jerry Jones and his son, Stephen. Although I’ll give Jerry and cheap man Stephen credit for seeking a trade for Adams’ services, the Dallas Cowboys missed out on a golden opportunity to acquire an elite and talented player. Period.

Before Cowboys Nation jump down my throat, I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t want to see Dallas make a historical trade like the Minnesota Vikings did with Dallas back in 1989 with the Herschel Walker trade.

Basically, the Vikings gave Dallas enough first, second, and third round picks for Walker over the course of three years make Dallas a dynasty with three Super Bowl titles in four years.

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But with Dallas having one of its best and ultra-talented rosters since the early 1990’s, I felt like an acquisition of Adams’ ilk would be the icing on the cake for America’s Team to make a legitimate run for the Super Bowl title and win it all.

Dallas’ defense-especially its secondary-ranks near the bottom of the league in forcing turnovers. The secondary seems to give up way too many big pass and/or get called for way too many pass interference penalties.

If Dallas had Adams’ services, Dallas’ turnovers would increase because the corners can now jump routes and with good coverage, opposing quarterbacks will hold onto the ball too long and either get sacked or lose the ball.

Adams’ presence instantly changes the entire makeup of the defense because now there is a true center fielder that can play more than a third of the field as the single high safety.

If you need proof, go back and watch how Adams played against Dallas a few weeks ago.

If Dallas truly wanted to get better and increase its chances of going to the Super Bowl, Jerry and Stephen should have done their best salesman talk to acquire Adams. Simply put, Adams is better than any defensive back on Dallas’ roster and is better than my man Xavier Woods (and do believe Woods will be a Pro Bowler one day) and Jeff Heath.

Further, Jerry and Stephen should have given the Jets a first round pick in 2020 & 2021 or a combination of a first rounder in 2020 with a player and a second rounder. It doesn’t have to be in that order but some type of combination with a first round pick and maybe a player. I just feel like Jerry and Stephen didn’t do enough.

And Jerry knows how to wheel and deal.

Jerry and Stephen can’t say they want to win a Super Bowl when they won’t go beyond the call of duty to make it happen.

Also, there’s a good chance Dallas will finish the season with a good record and draft late in the first round in 2020 & 2021. That means whoever Dallas drafts will not better than Adams, and depending on the players available in those drafts, Dallas could trade out of the first round and into the second round if they feel like they can select a particular player in that round.

So explain to me again why giving up two first round picks for a perennial Pro Bowler like Adams is a problem? Adams is worth the draft capital because he’s a proven commodity that’s a proven play maker.

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Those college players are unproven, and I don’t care how good they played in college. You know what you got in Adams but you don’t know what you’re getting with a some college players.

And with the opportunity to acquire a player like Adams, its similar to drafting all over again and if the player is worth it, why not pull the trigger on the trade like the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers did when they traded for shut down corner Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick respectively.

The Rams are struggling with a Super Bowl hangover loss, but understand that Ramsey is the best in the game, will help the Rams win games, will make timely plays, and is worth two first rounders because he’ll help the Rams win a Super Bowl one day.

And the same can be said about the Steelers and they’re definitely not going to the Super Bowl this year, but Fitzpatrick is will be the cornerstone of that secondary whenever the Steelers do make it back.

A team must build their team with players as if they’re going to win the Super Bowl, and that includes overpaying for it when the player is worth.

The Rams and Steelers know this to be true. But Jerry and Stephen don’t. And that’s why they missed out on a golden opportunity to win a Lombardi trophy.

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What do you think? Should the Cowboys have sent the needed picks to get the deal done or was the price too rich? Would they be wise to readdress the situation after the season?

Published on 11/01/2019 at 11:01 AM
Last updated at 11/01/2019 at 08:16 AM

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