In the end, Jamal Adams wound up in Seattle as the Seahawks sent the New York Jets two first-round picks (2021, 2022), a 2021 third-round pick and safety Bradley McDougald to land the Pro Bowl safety.
But the Seahawks weren't the only team in on the Adams talks, as both the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys also were involved, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday.
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In landing Adams, the Seahawks get one of the best safeties in the NFL who is exactly the type of player they need to match up with 49ers star tight end George Kittle. Surrendering two first-round picks might seem like a lot, but that's the going rate for a young star in today's NFL. And, when you think of how the Seahawks have drafted in recent seasons, those two first-round picks don't seem like a lot when you attach names like Rashaad Penny and L.J. Collier to them.
The 49ers reportedly being involved no doubt made the Seahawks more willing to pay a steep price for Adams.
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From the 49ers' perspective, this is a short-term disaster. The Seahawks landing Adams has allowed them to close the gap on the 49ers in the NFC West. The margin was razor-thin last year and could be even tighter in 2020.
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The 49ers no doubt desired Adams. They passed on him in the 2017 NFL Draft, and could have rectified that mistake by swinging a deal with the Jets. But the 49ers are hamstrung by salary cap constraints. They still need to give Kittle a lucrative extension and have extensions for Trent Williams and Nick Bosa in mind. Trading two first-round picks wasn't in the cards for the 49ers. They need cost-controlled talent to help with their upcoming cap issues.
General manager John Lynch also has shown himself to be a shrewd negotiator when it comes to trades. He acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and edge rusher Dee Ford for second-round picks. Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan said during the 2020 NFL Draft that they didn't want to enter another draft with as little capital as they had during the 2020 event.
[RELATED: Did Seahawks give up too much for Adams?]
Adams would have taken the 49ers' defense to the stratosphere, but now, Shanahan will be tasked with game planning for one of the top talents in the NFL.
Yes, the Seahawks gave up a lot for one of the best safeties in the game. They want to maximize their window while quarterback Russell Wilson is in his prime. That's the price to acquire young, elite talent and to keep it out of the hands of your rival.