For the second time in the last few years, the Cowboys lost out on a game-changing safety who made it clear they wanted to be in Dallas, simply because the price tag got too high.

No matter your feelings on the Cowboys’ roster building as a whole, and even after seeing the haul of picks the Jets received in exchange for Adams, it’s still disappointing to see Dallas fail to upgrade to the very best at a position of need.

We should not think that the Cowboys weren’t at least calling on Jamal Adams, though.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted after the trade went down that the Seahawks (and parties involved) believed that both the Cowboys and 49ers were trying to land Adams as well. Our own John Williams has also heard rumors that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were trying to get in the mix as well.

Notes on Jamal Adams/Seahawks, per sources.

Parties involved believed 49ers, Cowboys were both in.

A deal now not stipulation for trade, can extend this year or next.

Draft uncertainty a factor.

All but closes book on Clowney.

Team views Adams as weapon more than safety

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 25, 2020

This means that four of the top contenders in the NFC (at least on paper) were all trying to make a move to land the All Pro defensive player. In the end, the Seahawks won the fight for the star this time, potentially giving them a short-term edge over their division foes in San Francisco.

Still, as Jeremy Fowler mentioned, this deal also makes it highly unlikely that Jadeveon Clowney will return to the Seahawks this season.

Maybe this is where the Cowboys can land their own big fish, without needing to give up the draft capital to do so.