Report: Jamal Adams' 5th-Year Jets Contract Option Picked Up Amid Trade Rumors

The New York Jets picked up the fifth-year option on star safety Jamal Adams on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. 

The option will pay Adams $9.9 million in the 2021 season, per Spotrac. 

Adams joins a growing list of young players who saw their fifth-year options exercised this offseason:

• Cleveland Browns defense end Myles Garrett
• Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson
• Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett
• Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey
• Washington defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard
• Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White
• Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku
• Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt. 

It isn't a surprise that the Jets picked up the option on Adams. The 24-year-old is already a two-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2019 after registering 75 tackles (10 tackles for loss), 6.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. 

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 32nd-best player in the NFL last season, writing:

"Adams has become one of the game's most versatile weapons on defense. In a league that is trending ever more towards matchup problems on offense, Adams is one of a new breed of defender that can solve those problems on defense. This season, Adams spent significant snaps at free safety (297), in the box (401), in the slot (131), lined up out wide as a boundary corner (34) and even on the defensive line as a legitimate edge rusher (96), and he was one of the most effective defenders in the game."

But there are legitimate questions about whether Adams has a future with the Jets. His name popped up in rumors ahead of last season's trade deadline in October:

Adams was not happy to hear he was possibly on the trade block:

It remains to be seen if that created a long-term rift between Adams and the Jets. Teams would definitely have interest if Adams were ever on the trade block again. As of Wednesday, however, he will be with Gang Green for at least two more seasons.