After trading two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the New York Jets for Adams in July 2020, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll made sure Michelle was on the list of individuals he phoned. “Him contacting me, reaching out and calling my mother, that meant everything to me,” said Adams.
“It’s the simple things like that.” Flash forward 13 months, and Jamal signed a four-year contract deal for up to $72 million with Michelle on Tuesday.
With a base of $17.5 million and a maximum of $18 million, it’s the highest safety contract in the NFL, topping Justin Simmons’ $15.25 million per year with the Broncos.
According to ESPN, Adams will earn a $20 million signing bonus and $38 million in guarantees.
The $20 million signing bonus is comparable to Eric Berry’s six-year, $78 million agreement with the Chiefs in 2017 and Earl Thomas’ four-year, $55 million deal with the Ravens in 2019. Adams had been skipping training camp and games while negotiating the deal.
Both sides had buried their heels in on what they each considered were fair contract proposals after five months. “We had to really stake our ground,” Carroll said.
“And as a result, connections become even more important.”
