Dallas Cowboys – Cap Space in 2020: $11,254,093
Dallas seems like a natural fit from Adams’ and the casual fan’s point of view. The Texas native appears as though he wants to return home, and Jerry Jones would certainly have the desire to make a deal happen. Adams is a superstar who would be worth the entry fee to Jerry’s World alone for both Cowboys fans and the neutral observer, but on second glance, it is more of an awkward fit than it first appears.
With just over $11 million in cap space, a deal would be possible but at the expense of an immediate extension for Dak Prescott. Prescott has recently signed his franchise tag and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2021 and it is clear that a new deal is a priority for both player and team. Furthermore, Dallas signed free agent Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix in April to partner Xavier Woods in what should be a solid safety tandem.
The Cowboys also do not have any obvious cuts that would afford them enough room for manoeuvre to enable them to squeeze Adams under the cap in the event of a long-term Prescott deal. Allegedly, Adams has said that he would forego an immediate extension to make the move to a team of his choice, but Jones’ team has many of its marquee contracts locked in for the next few years (DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, Amari Cooper). In the event of a shrinkage to the overall cap number in a post-COVID world, it would take until 2023 at the earliest before it could realistically move on from such deals without crippling dead cap hits.
What would a trade scenario look like for Dallas? Gang Green are likely to want at least a couple of high draft picks in return for their cornerstone player which is something that could make Dallas balk. A candidate who has been linked in a trade is receiver, Michael Gallup due to the recent draft pick of CeeDee Lamb by the Cowboys. Gallup is an excellent young receiver, but the Jets also just drafted a coveted first round wideout in Denzel Mims.
New York also has a combined $16m committed to the newly acquired Breshad Perriman and trusty veteran Jamison Crowder in 2020. This sort of deal seems unlikely and the Cowboys will need to retain as many of its playmakers as possible throughout a perceived Superbowl window with Prescott under center.
The Jets need difference makers on defense in order to make any kind of trade involving players as capital – an irony that will not go unnoticed by Joe Douglas if any movement with Adams starts to materialise. Dallas do not have the realistic bait at this moment in time and if Adams gets his wish of a trade to anyone, surely Douglas will want to retain a semblance of control and not allow Adams to engineer an exit to his preferred destination?
Player power could win out though, and it would not surprise us due to one person: Jerry Jones.
Likelihood: 8/10
