Dallas Cowboys Jamal Adams Trade: The Circumstances Have Changed

Dallas Cowboys Jamal Adams trade circumstance No. 2

The ticking clock

Let’s be clear, the New York Jets have most the power and leverage in this situation. They own Jamal Adams’ rights for the next two seasons and could easily franchise tag him for a third season. Much like the Dallas Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott standoff last year, the team is in complete control.

But in the Jets case, there are two major differences:

1. They don’t have postseason hopes so are more willing to stand strong if the player holds out
2. Jamal Adams actually has trade value

trade compensation, combined with the ticking clock on Jamal Adams’ uncontrollably, is the circumstance that’s now working in this trade’s favor.

The first point is pretty self-explanatory: Last year the Dallas Cowboys were really in Super Bowl mode and they couldn’t afford to call Zeke’s bluff of sitting out games. The Jets are in a long rebuild and can easily handle a holdout. The fan base may get angry at the handling of the franchise’s best player but it’s not like they are squandering a great postseason opportunity or anything.

The next difference is Jamal Adams value vs Zeke’s last year. Adams is highly regarded and highly valued across the NFL. Teams will be willing to pay for Adams’ services. Zeke wasn’t/isn’t so valuable league-wide.

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In case you haven’t noticed teams aren’t lining up to pay running backs these days. In fact, most teams are trying to undo those decisions as evidenced by recent roster cuts to the NFL’s highest paid running backs. Now there are reasons to believe Zeke is different, yes, but generally speaking running backs are replaceable parts and spending big on one isn’t advisable. This lowers demand and lowers trade compensation.

And that trade compensation, combined with the ticking clock on Jamal Adams’ uncontrollably, is the circumstance that’s now working in this trade’s favor.

Jamal Adams’ value is going to drop once the season starts. The longer it goes on the less games would-be traders get in return. As Mike Fisher reports, the lofty compensation demands from the Jets have already dropped because no team is willing to pay what’s being asked. Unless an unexpected bidding war starts up, their return will only drop in coming days. That’s why the Jets have reason to get this done.

The relationship between the Jets and Adams’ camp is getting bad and if the Jets don’t think they can repair it, they’d be wise to trade Adams and get as much as possible back before it’s too late.