Here's the deal- if the Jets are trading Adams because he's going to require a renegotiation and an extension in the immediate future, then his cost in players or picks will go down greatly.
We have to look at the different possibilities:
1. Adams and Jets cannot agree on an extension, but Adams will not hold out and will play on his current contract.
Under this scenario, whoever trades for Adams can go ahead and sign him to an extension if they want or have Adams for 2020 and 2021 at reasonable rates of 3.5 mil this year and 9.8 for next. (Approx values).
Under this possibility, the Jets are likely only entertaining offers because they know they can get more now as a team trading for Adams has two reasonable cost years and two years to work that extension. A deal under this possibility happens either because a team over pays in young players or draft capital or because the Jets would want to get something now for him.
It's this scenario where Dallas likely has to pay a first round pick plus some to get him.
2. Adams and Jets cannot agree on an extension and Adams will likely hold out or refuse to play on his current deal.
Under this scenario, the Jets are being backed into a corner. Adams wants to get paid and he wants to get paid now. If this is the case, the value on the two current years left doesn't matter. Whoever trades for his is going to have to pay sooner rather than later, so the value the Jets get will be exponentially less than in possibility 1.
This possibility backs the Jets into a wall. Get something for Adams or have no Adams. Of course, there's a game of chicken here. Maybe Adams will come back and finish out the deal and the Jets can trade him later or at least get the value of his services for the last two years. But there's more risk involved.
Either possibility could be ok for the Cowboys. I would have no problem giving up next year's first for Adams on his current contract. The Cowboys will get two years out of him before having to pay up. Hopefully in one of those, he leads us to a Super Bowl.
Under the second possibility, the Cowboys would have to make the cap space for the extension, but would give up less in draft capital...and maybe could even get Adams for a 3rd and a 5th. I would do that deal as well.
