By: Robert Bishop

Back again, and after months’ worth of speculation and conjecture, superstar safety Jamal Adams finally went public with a request to be traded by the New York Jets. This move was a long time coming as the franchise—inexplicably—seemed reluctant to give Adams a long-term deal. Since entering the NFL, Adams has evolved into being among the best defenders in the league. Thanks to his incredible versatility, Adams’ skillset fits into any defensive scheme. He is among the pioneers of position-less defenders, proving more than capable of producing at an elite level in coverage, against the run, and most impressively, rushing the passer.

Upon making his trade request, a list of eight teams was revealed as being Adams’s preferred destinations, though an eighth team was quickly added to the list. Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle were the initial seven, with Tampa Bay joining shortly after. After wasting away on the hapless Jets for the past three seasons, it is obvious that Adams is looking to join a situation that is more conducive to winning. It’s also apparent Adams is looking at an enormous payday, as he is reportedly seeking a contract that would make him among the highest-paid defenders in the NFL, not just the highest-paid safety. Given his superstar ability and unrivaled versatility, Adams not only deserves that kind of payday but also getting it.

Eagles star guard Brandon Brooks suffered a season-ending torn Achilles’ tendon last week, creating a massive opening on the interior of Philadelphia’s offensive line. Speculation has linked the franchise to veteran offensive tackle Jason Peters, but it is tough to see the positional fit between the two parties. Most interesting is that Philadelphia may have a serviceable replacement already rostered in fourth-round pick Jack Driscoll. A tackle in college, Driscoll is likely going to slide into the interior where his solid athleticism could make his transition to the NFL seamless. The Eagles are already turning the left tackle gig to Andre Dillard, last season’s first-round pick. Embracing the youth movement along the offensive line is a viable strategy for the Eagles, especially with superstars at center (Jason Kelce) and right tackle (Lane Johnson) back for 2020.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, slapped with the franchise tag earlier in the off-season, has been reluctant to sign the franchise tender due to a desire for a long-term deal. However, over the weekend, news surfaced that Prescott has decided to sign the tender. The move does not eliminate the possibility of a long-term deal. It merely facilitates Prescott being under contract and able to join his teammates at the commencement of training camp. Dallas remains committed to Prescott long-term, though the Cowboys have to be hoping he lowers his asking price. Earlier this off-season, it was made clear that Prescott is looking to reset the market for quarterback salaries.

Moving to Major League Baseball, the prospects of a season—of any length—took a significant hit over the weekend as COVID diagnoses ran roughshod through team camps. As of Sunday night, there were 40+ confirmed cases of coronavirus among MLB players and staff, with more a likelihood. Teams across the baseball landscape have opted to close camps to allow for a thorough cleaning, but it is safe to assume no amount of cleaning will prove capable of ending the virus’s spread. For weeks, the public has been bombarded with details of the owners and MLBPA’s negotiations on the framework for the 2020 season, forgetting the ultimate cause for the talks is a pandemic. Now, the pandemic is hitting the baseball landscape, the health risks associated with merely having a season at all are becoming increasingly apparent.

Later.