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3 Assets Chiefs Can Offer Jets in Jamal Adams Trade Talks

By Scott Rogust

The Kansas CIty Chiefs may need to consider Frank Clark as a trade asset in order land All-Pro Jamal Adams
The Kansas CIty Chiefs may need to consider Frank Clark as a trade asset in order land All-Pro Jamal Adams / Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Safety Jamal Adams has been asking for a contract extension for months, but the New York Jets have instead chosen to play the waiting game. That plan backfired, as Adams demanded a trade to one of seven teams -- and one of them is the Kansas City Chiefs. Let's face it, the Chiefs really don't need Adams, but it's not every day that such a big talent becomes available.

With that in mind, let's identify three key assets the Chiefs can use to acquire Adams from the Jets.

3. S Juan Thornhill

If the Chiefs acquire Jamal Adams, the Jets should get Juan Thornhill
If the Chiefs acquire Jamal Adams, the Jets should get Juan Thornhill / Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

If the Chiefs were to acquire Adams, one of their two starting safeties have got to go. Having an LSU safety duo with Adams and Tyrann Mathieu is just too enticing for Kansas City, so that leaves Juan Thornhill as the odd man out. Thornhill was having a strong rookie campaign last season before he suffered a torn ACL in the regular season finale. In 16 games, the former 2019 second-round pick recorded 58 combined tackles and allowed a 46.4 quarterback completion percentage for 121 yards and two scores. Additionally, he recorded three interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown. The Jets may be losing Adams, but they'd get a bright young star in Thornhill to replace him.

2. 2021 First-Round Pick

When you're a Super Bowl contender, you can trade away draft capital.
When you're a Super Bowl contender, you can trade away draft capital. / Michael Hickey/Getty Images

When you're the reigning Super Bowl champions, you don't have much need for a full stock of NFL Draft capital in the immediate future. The Chiefs are heavily expected to reach the AFC Championship Game at minimum this upcoming season, so they're going to be drafting towards the end of each round. The Jets can use as many selections as possible to eventually build their team into competitors, and having two first-rounders in 2021 could be an enticing option for general manager Joe Douglas.

1. DE Frank Clark

The Jets can add a stud pass rusher in Frank Clark.
The Jets can add a stud pass rusher in Frank Clark. / David Eulitt/Getty Images

This is no knock on Frank Clark, who's one of the NFL's better pass rushers, but his contract is a massive albatross for the Chiefs. The money he's owed over the next four seasons is preventing Kansas City from re-signing the likes of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and stud defensive tackle Chris Jones to long-term deals here and now. The important thing to note is that Adams reportedly won't demand an immediate contract extension on his new team, which certainly helps the Chiefs in locking in the aforementioned players. The Jets have a massive need for a quality edge rusher, and they'd get just that in Clark. Plus, it helps the Jets have a vast amount of cap space to fit him into their books.