Pro Football Rumors
The Vikings are signing linebacker Jamal Adams ahead of training camp, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. Details of the deal are not available.
Now 30 years old, Adams has spent the majority of his career as a safety. After going sixth overall to the Jets in the 2017 draft, the former LSU star earned two Pro Bowl nods and a pair of All-Pro selections in their uniform. Although Adams thrived with the Jets, they shipped him to Seattle in 2020 after contract talks went poorly. The Jets received a haul in the swap, as the Seahawks gave up 2021-22 first-round picks, a ’21 third-rounder and safety Bradley McDougald for Adams and a ’22 fourth-rounder.
Adams played four years in Seattle, where he went to the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro pick in 2020. The Seahawks awarded Adams a four-year, $72MM extension in 2021, but he went on to struggle with injuries and a decline in performance. After Adams played a meager 22 of a possible 50 games through 2023, the Seahawks released him.
Adams divided 2024 between Tennessee and Detroit, where he combined for just five appearances, but enjoyed a healthy year with the Raiders last season. Moving to Las Vegas allowed Adams to reunite with ex-Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, though it also required the former star defender to switch to linebacker. The move worked out well. During the first 17-game season of his nine-year career, Adams played about 40% of defense snaps and collected 45 tackles, five TFL, a forced fumble and a sack. Although he did not post gaudy counting stats, Pro Football Focus gave Adams the 33rd-highest grade out of 88 qualified linebackers.
Now going to Minnesota to play for defensive coordinator Robert Flores, Adams is expected to stay at linebacker, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. The 30-year-old will vie for a role behind starters Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson. Ivan Pace and rookie second-rounder Jake Golday, the 51st pick in the draft, are among their other options at the position.
