We would be remiss if we didn’t put the final nail in the coffin that is the story of the Jamal Adams trade. In the telling, the 49ers would have acquired Adams, the disgruntled, but gifted, Jets safety.
The story seemed to come up weekly, with assorted denials and confirmations. And now that Seattle has traded for Adams, surely it is finally dead, right?
Not so fast. ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler is saying there were three teams in the bidding — the Seahawks, the Cowboys, and the 49ers.
So there was something to the rumors. The only question left is: did the 49ers miss an opportunity or dodge a bullet?
The missing-an-opportunity case is easy to make. How many safeties have the 49ers put on the field in the last four years? The correct answer is . . . a lot. (Although granted, some of that was because of injury.) Adams would be an upgrade for any team. And if he plays up to his All Pro stature, San Francisco will get two Seattle games a year to regret missing out.
On the other hand, look at what the Seahawks gave up. Two first round draft picks (next year and 2022) and a third rounder in 2021. That’s a lot. Especially when Kyle Shanahan’s team has already traded a third and a fifth-round pick in 2021 for Trent Williams.
If the 49ers made the same deal as Seattle, they wouldn’t have a first, third or fifth pick next year. That’s