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Brady HendersonESPN
Coach Pete Carroll tried on Tuesday to quash any notion that the Seattle Seahawks are contemplating slicing security Jamal Adams after the group’s current acquisition of Julian Love.
Carroll, talking on the NFL’s annual conferences in Phoenix, burdened that the signing of the versatile Love would not affect Adams or fellow security Quandre Diggs, apart from permitting Seattle to play with all three without delay.
It stays unclear if Adams, who’s coming off surgical procedure to restore a torn quad tendon, might be prepared for Week 1 of the 2023 season.
“We have despatched our guys out to see him about 10 days in the past and he is coming in within the subsequent couple weeks, too, so we’re retaining monitor,” Carroll mentioned. “It appears like he is doing nice. He is pushing it and he will attempt to bust no matter projections that will preserve him from … being prepared for the beginning of the season. He is trying to get that performed. We’re relying on it, hoping it.
“I do know there’s some dialog that what we did with Julian, does which have some affect on Jamal or Quandre — it would not. We have now a transparent considered what we’ll do with our guys and the way we wish to play them and we really feel very lucky to have all our guys.”
That plan consists of packages that make use of three safeties on the sphere collectively, with Adams enjoying nearer to the road of scrimmage in a pseudo-linebacker position. The Seahawks supposed to do this in 2022, believing it might reignite Adams after his down season in 2021, however he was misplaced for the yr within the first half of their opener. On the play he was injured, Adams blitzed from a linebacker alignment with two safeties lined up behind him.
“We have been on this for some time,” Carroll mentioned.
The hypothesis that the Seahawks might transfer on from Adams was tied to his hefty contract, his dip in manufacturing and availability over the previous two seasons and all the cash Seattle now has tied up in its safeties.
After he was acquired in a blockbuster commerce with the New York Jets in 2020, Adams set the single-season sack report for a defensive again with 9.5 that yr whereas making his third straight Professional Bowl. That led to a four-year, $70 million extension the next offseason. However he hasn’t been the identical since.
Adams did not register a sack in 2021 earlier than his season resulted in December when he once more tore his left shoulder labrum, the identical damage he suffered and performed by way of the yr earlier than. After lacking solely two video games over his first three seasons with the Jets, Adams has missed 25 of a attainable 50 video games in three seasons with Seattle.
Adams has three years and $45 million remaining on his contract. That features an $11 million base wage in 2023, of which $2.56 million is totally assured. Slicing Adams this offseason might liberate as a lot as $8.44 million in 2023 cap area, however it might include $23.89 million in lifeless cash. Based on ESPN Stats & Info, that will be the seventh-highest quantity of lifeless cash in NFL historical past and the second highest for a non-quarterback.
Diggs, a Professional Bowler in every of the previous two seasons, is because of make $25 million over the ultimate two years of his deal. The Seahawks additionally tendered Ryan Neal — one in all their defensive MVPs from 2022 whereas filling in for Adams — as a restricted free agent. Neal acquired the low tender price $2.627 million, which all however secures his rights for this season for no less than that a lot cash.
Love signed a two-year, $12 million deal within the first week of free company with Seattle, which incorporates $5.98 million assured comprised of a $4.82 million signing bonus and a $1.16 million base wage for 2023, in line with ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Love’s $5 million base wage for 2024 is not assured.
The 25-year previous Love had a breakout season for the Giants in his first full season as a starter. He recorded 124 tackles, two interceptions, 5 passes defensed and 6 tackles for loss whereas additionally serving as a group captain and defensive signal-caller.
The Seahawks did their homework on Love earlier than free company however did not imagine he’d be inside their contract vary.
“He is a brilliant instinctive participant,” basic supervisor John Schneider mentioned of Love on Seattle Sports activities 710-AM. “Nice eyes, nice imaginative and prescient. Extremely, extremely productive man at Notre Dame and with the Giants.”
The Seahawks like the flexibility Love has proven by enjoying each security spots in addition to nickelback. Carroll additionally famous how Love performed greater than 1,000 snaps on protection final season and greater than 200 on particular groups.
“That is an uncommon combine,” Carroll mentioned. “That is only one facet of what Julian brings. He is a very versatile soccer participant. He known as their protection. Had the inexperienced dot. Was a captain. It was a really uncommon alternative to get a man like that, so we jumped at it.”
Carroll answered within the affirmative when requested if Love might play nickelback, a job crammed final season by rookie Coby Bryant.
“Sure, he can do a whole lot of issues,” Carroll mentioned. “He was a really dynamic participant of their system. He did all the pieces from the again, was a very good deep-end participant, however he matches into the working recreation and pressuring and all of these issues. He is bought all of these issues. He is a very full soccer participant. Additionally the smarts that he brings and the management that he brings, he will be a very good addition.”
ESPN reporter Lindsey Thiry contributed to this story.
